From modest cottage to liveable home

The West Australian, 6th March 2010

The makeover for this 1920’s Inglewood house has kept faith with its roots, according to Gemma Nisbet.

When Natalie and David bought their 1920’s Inglewood character home, it was so old-fashioned that there was only one electrical socket in the whole of the original house.

Despite this, and some other bumps at the start of the road – including a builder the couple initially approached who proposed a two-storey design that was $150,000 over budget - the extensive renovation and addition by Dale Alcock Home Improvement has resulted in a very liveable family home that stays true to its roots.

The owners initially did some work to the original “very modest cottage”, which had an outdoor toilet, four rooms and a falling-down sleepout, in addition to the solitary power point.

They also engaged interior designer Anne Courtney Bennett to help them with their pre-start selections.

An old veranda was removed from the façade and replaced by a new, aesthetically appropriate one. Recycled-brick paving, raised garden beds and a white picket fence were added.

The existing four rooms were gutted; the new rooms have new ceilings with beautiful centre-pieces, cornices and light fittings in a traditional style reminiscent of the glory days of the original home.

Other work in the front section included the removal of jarrah floorboards that were infected with white ants an the installation of an archway halfway along the central hall.

To one side of this hallway are the bedrooms occupied by the couple’s two sons, between which stud walls were installed allow for built-in robes. To the other side are the games room and a study opening into the new paved courtyard.

This courtyard marks the beginning of the extension and was included to maximise the flow of natural light throughout the home. A grape vine, when fully grown across the timber battens that span the space, will provide passive-solar benefits.