Contemporary Single Storey Extension & Renovation

This 1940’s traditional home was extended and completely renovated to cater for a family of 5 (mum and dad and 3 young daughters). The kitchen was in the middle of the house and lacked a lot of natural light. There also wasn’t a good connection between the indoor living spaces and the outside rear yard. The owners also wanted another bedroom and an indoor/ outdoor sun room that would link the internal living areas to the outside.

The solution was to move the kitchen to the east side of the house where there was an existing carport. The carport roof was retained and new walls were built to accommodate the new kitchen. The highlight windows above the overhead cupboards allow for lots of natural morning light to enter the space. In addition, there is a window above the sink and a full height window between the benchtop and the pantry.

The existing living room was converted into a 4th bedroom and by removing the kitchen from the centre of the house it allowed for that area to be opened up into a large living and dining space. In order to get light into this new living area the roof and ceiling were modified to allow for a new large skylight which lets in lots of natural light.

A new indoor/ outdoor sun room was added to where the existing pergola was on the north face of the house. This space has frameless glass bi-fold doors between the outside as well as another set of glass doors between the new large living area.

The sun room doors are left open to the outside during the warmer months but are closed off during the winter. During the colder months the glass doors between the sun room and the living area are then opened up to make a very large internal living space.

Also, because the sun room faces north, it captures the winter sun during the day and then releases that captured heat later in the evening to keep the house warm during the cold hours of the night. This use of passive solar design reduces the owners energy bill considerably on an annual basis.