Home renovation: Retirees going against the grain

They are the not-so-empty-nesters who are refusing to live as they are supposed to.

It used to go something like this – the kids would grow up and move out and their retiree parents would sell the family home and move into something small and practical, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

But times have changed and the older crowd is increasingly refusing to shuffle off to a quiet third act by the seaside and is instead renovating modern works of art in locations that speak to their hearts.

For Jacquie Taylor, 68, and Phil O’Brien, 78, this meant moving in to the inner city and creating an unconventional space that worked just for them.

Jacquie Taylor, 68, and Phil O’Brien in inner-city home. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Their family home had been a four-storey Victorian terrace in Sydney’s Paddington.

The couple had lived there for 30 years and loved it. But for their next chapter they wanted the opposite – a modern, open plan one-level pad. And they weren’t afraid of making some controversial choices.

“We wanted a space that worked for us as a couple, with a view of ageing here,” says Jacquie of the Surry Hills apartment.

That meant going against the grain and getting rid of the second bedroom to increase living space. As they would no longer be cooking for a family and planned on eating out a lot most days, they wanted the most slimline of kitchens only.

Brooke Aitken, founder and chief architect of Brooke Aitken Design, transformed the space for them.

Slimline kitchen. Picture: Tim Pascoe

More room for living. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“The apartment is on the bottom floor of what was a warehouse, with almost no natural light and strange spaces of different ceiling heights. The brief was to make this into a light-filled, internal space where Jacquie and Phil can spend the rest of their lives,” Brooke says.

“They wanted to focus on what really gave them joy, pare back belongings to what was absolutely necessary so they had the ability to travel and go out to dinner. They wouldn’t be entertaining constantly and didn’t need a big kitchen because they wanted to spend most of their time out.”

Two of the major design elements included getting rid of the second bedroom to increase their living area and a black kitchen that recedes into the space.

“They said, ‘Stuff the resale value. We’ll be here forever and we’ll do what we want. We have to have a kitchen but don’t really want to have one, we much prefer living space’,” explains Brooke.

“Kitchens are generally front and centre, the Rolls Royce of the house so to speak … where you spend the most amount of money. But we relocated it from the centre of the space and almost tucked it away,” she adds.

Getting light into the space was a challenge. But with a little lateral thinking it was achieved.

“We came up with the idea of soft timber backlit screens around the storage area and bathroom,” says Brooke.

“They almost work as Japanese lanterns, the light is always on and gives this warm honey-coloured glow which stops the space from being a cold, minimalist grey box.”

Light and happiness. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Jacquie and Phil have lived in the apartment for three years now and are delighted with it. But like a lot of people who are spending more time at home thanks to Covid, they’re after a little more space these days.

“We own the unit above us, which we currently rent out,” says Jacquie.

“Our original plan was to renovate that and incorporate it into our living space as well via a set of stairs but strata wouldn’t allow it so we’ve taken the easy option of leaving the stairs alone and accessing it individually. It’ll work for us.”

Social researcher Claire Madden believes the couple’s need for more space is reflective of the not-so-empty nest as downsizers who dreamt of becoming grey nomads and travelling the country or spending part of the year overseas, are staying put.

“Their lifestyle has been really impacted because of Covid,” says Claire.

156 Crowne St Darlinghurst, Pics: Tim Pascoe

“Retirees are at a stage where they like to take trips and home base has traditionally been a lock-and-leave property, but suddenly that’s changed when you’re not allowed to leave home. A small home footprint can be a bit too tight for lockdown life.”

Brooke says that Jacquie and Phil’s brief was unique because they weren’t afraid to put caution to the wind and get rid of a bedroom. This is the opposite of what most of her clients are asking for currently.

“During Covid, the requests have been about making things bigger,” says Brooke.

“If they’re going to be trapped inside, they’re adding rooms rather than subtracting,” she adds.

More: Brooke Aitken Design

Originally published as Home renovation: Retirees going against the grain