Havwoods Feature, Eleebana Renovation/Extension
We are extremely pleased to have one of our recent projects featured as a case study by Havwoods Flooring.
The extensive renovation meant that subfloor preparation was key to ensuring our clients had perfectly laid, beautiful floors. The client’s selected the Pureplank in Villach which added a beautiful sense of warmth throughout the whole project.
Discover more about our Eleebana project
Bull Building were recently featured in a Havwoods (flooring company) case study on their website. I’d like to write a blog about the feature for the Bull website.
This breathtaking renovation/extension situated in the leafy lakeside suburb of Eleebana, was designed to breathe new life into a small dated residence that the owners had been living in for the last 12 years. The owners loved the location but their family had outgrown the existing space which consisted of small bedrooms and small living areas like most homes from this era.
Working collaboratively with Craggspace Architects, it was important to the owners to create a modern renovation/extension which reflected a lifestyle revolving around their love of entertaining and having ample space for the whole family. One of the key aspects of the project was to create additional living spaces where the family could come together and enjoy quality time but then also give them the opportunity to retreat to their own spaces as needed. It was also important for the owners to be able to have everyone over comfortably for weekly dinners and for their kids to have the space for them to invite their friends over.
Based on these needs Craggspace designed a solution that consisted of a downstairs renovation that included an additional 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, living space and new garage and a first floor addition for the main bedroom with a parents retreat, walk-in-robe and ensuite. The owners engaged Bull Building to bring their vision to life: an open-flow home with lots of natural light that embodied family living.
The layout of the existing home was cavernous and didn’t effectively utilise the existing footprint. Re-purposing of the lower level was essential to create a holistic family home that catered for the client’s daily needs which consisted of an open plan living space, new kitchen with walk-in pantry, storeroom, laundry, bathroom, bedroom with ensuite and a study/office.
The revamped entry heightens the arrival experience. The owners and visitors are greeted with an inviting entryway that was achieved by including an architectural cantilever structural steel arbor finished in HWD and lifting the entry and lower level up to create a sense of change between the garden and front walkway, adding a heightened sense of arrival when transitioning into the space, a feature the clients loved.
The key to embedding a sense of grandeur into the home was the extended height raked ceilings over the kitchen area. Upon entry you find yourself in the inviting foyer Which leads into the open plan living, kitchen and dining. Balancing intimacy and openness, the spaces and materials used employ contrast and textural variation to offer differentiation. Although seemingly simplified when viewing the spaces, the crafted detail needed to create such a seamless transition between them all was crucial to the lower levels success.
The kitchen, designed by Urban Joinery is a bright, spacious centre for gathering, sharing and enjoying family connection. It features Ceasarstone benchtops, large entertaining island, windowed splashback and butlers pantry that was designed with family gatherings in mind. The stunning Velux skylight in the raked ceiling draws light into the kitchen and complements the vast open plan design. The result is a clean, minimalist space that harmonises with the living and dining area that it flows into. Further into the house the open plan configuration creates an inclusive environment suitable for the family and guests to enjoy.
You are then invited up to the 2nd storey addition which features the parents master retreat with large master bedroom and sitting area, walk-in robe, ensuite and a second and third bedroom with a separate bathroom and living space. The key to the success of the upstairs addition was that it allowed for additional privacy and amenity, but also importantly capturing a higher aspect of the site and increased space for the family.
The minimal material palette is timeless and light. The timber Havwood floors add warmth and create a sense of home whilst linking back to the other levels of the home. The skylight in the kitchen and window above the stairs create an illusion of more space and also bounces natural light deeper into the plan. This brightness is then accentuated by the clever use of space, neutral colour palette and the abundance of natural light that flows throughout the home creating a sleek, sophisticated look that creates an air of relaxation.
Key to the project’s success is the clever way the interior rooms and spaces enjoy improved connections to one another. Particular attention has been paid to maintaining spatial diversity and creating a variety of rooms where small and large groups can come together, both inside and out.
