For Expansion

The West Australian, New Homes, 14^th November 2009
By Gemma Nisbet

Owners of older homes who want to add some extra space are faced with the dilemma of whether to build upwards or outwards.  While the latter option tends to be cheaper and a little less fraught with difficulty, its’ not always a possibility for those with a smaller block.

Luckily, this Nedlands character house sits on a generous piece of land, so its owners had plenty of room to extend their home backwards in an addition project that took almost five months to complete, plus another four weeks for painting the walls, laying flooring and the like.

Existing area’s to the rear of the home were refreshed, including a rather dated cream and brown laundry, which was gutted and modernised with new cabinetry and yellowish-green feature walls.

A bathroom adjacent to this was converted into a wine cellar and the original playroom, which features pitched ceiling with exposed beams, was also refurbished.

From here, self-closing screen doors provided access to the existing paved pool area, alfresco dining space and generously sized garden, which enjoys expanses of well-kept lawn and striking plants.

To the rear of the playroom, a hallway with recycled jarrah floorboards leads to the new section of the house, in which two bedrooms have been replaced by a more complete children’s wing.

Three new bedrooms, all of which also have the recycled jarrah floorboards, are equipped with built-in robes and ceiling fans, and have pleasant outlooks over the garden.

A bathroom with a heated towel rail, large bathtub, semi-frameless screened shower, feature tiling in shades of green and windows with dimpled privacy glass has also been added, along with a storeroom.

To achieve the consistency of style that is always important in character home renovations, builder Dale Alcock Home Improvements chose a subtle approach.

The more intricate and costly period details evident in the original, from part of the home – which include stained-glass windows and beautiful Art Deco light fittings – have not been carried through to the addition.

Instead, nods to the fundamentals of the character home aesthetic, with stylistically appropriate window frames, cornicing and skirting boards, ensure that the old and new sections of the residence are tied together simply and effectively.

The home was an entry in the 2009 HIA-NIB Perth Housing Awards.  For inquiries contact Dale Alcock Home Improvement on 9204 9000.