‘To collect is to gather your thoughts through things…I think there is always something of a contest between art and life.…’ Patrick Pound
The client, an artist and Leonard Joel enthusiast - a collector of all things astonishing and strange - had recently purchased the property, down-sizing after finally releasing the shackles on her two adult sons, she wanted to fully renovate the place before making it home.
The existing single storey, semi-detached Edwardian house is located in the leafy inner-bayside suburb of Elwood and adjoins a property directly to the north and Dante’s Lane to the south. The house was last renovated in the early 90s and had a dated kitchen and bathrooms in poor condition, and a single-storey steeply-pitched addition to the rear which was also in need of an update. The existing entry hall, two front bedrooms, and living area to the front of the house were in reasonable condition with original Edwardian timber detailing and wouldn’t require much work.
The project navigated the necessary constraints of a limited budget and scope of works, with the desire to radically change the look and feel of the whole house - to breathe new life into it - and to adapt it in a way that aligned with the client’s pretty unique personality and lifestyle. The property is in an established neighbourhood residential zone, and is subject to a heritage and special building overlay. A planning permit was gained to add a new studio to the rear garden, however through the process of aligning budget and scope expectations, it was decided to scale back the project, and to perhaps undertake this as a second stage down the track when Trump lays off his trade war and tweeting away to an imminent stock market collapse.
The renovation consisted of a new kitchen within the size and general layout of the existing footprint, a new main bathroom, second bathroom and laundry, extensive cabinetry throughout, and a number of new external windows and bi-fold doors to open up the house to the surrounding garden.
To the front of the house, as you enter the dark hallway, past the timber paneling and Edwardian details, the deep red patterned bathroom entices you in, hinting at what lays beyond. You move through the entry and into the living room, the back of the house opens up revealing the new insertions of kitchen, dining, study and sunroom at the rear.
The client’s partner is an ex-chef, so a hard-wearing stainless-steel bench top was installed alongside a large Ilve chef’s oven and sink, with a stainless splashback against the wall. The rest of the U-shaped kitchen is made of a Fenix, a matt, soft touch, anti-fingerprint, nanotech laminate material in a deep blue colour.
A glass display cabinet was installed within the existing external door which led to the back garden, this is used to store cocktail glasses, wine carafes, and other crystal ware. A large suspended hanging rack over the central kitchen bench offers an opportunity to hang pots and pans within easy reach.
The dining room was opened up to a side courtyard by way of large bi-fold doors, and a vertical garden ‘the lungs of the house’ was installed against the existing brick wall to Dante Lane. A large sculptural pendant light is centred over the dining table.
Deep bronze anodized reveals line existing door openings throughout the house, tying together the new insertions within the existing dwelling. The bronze aluminium matching the same finish as the large bi-fold door openings to the courtyard and the garden space at the rear.
A study nook makes the most of the 90s barrel-vaulted ceiling link to the existing rear addition. This space is painted out in a deep-blue, a large desk and shelves fill one side of the link, with a sashless double-hung window opening up the other to the north-facing garden, allowing natural light to flood this space, whilst providing cross-ventilation to the adjoining dining and sunroom areas.
As you move through this lower study nook, the space opens up into the light-filled, high-pitched ceiling of the rear sunroom addition. The awkward internal walls within this space were demolished and re-configured to provide a second bathroom and laundry, as well as a storage space, and full-height display cabinet. Large anodized aluminium double-glazed bi-fold doors are inserted into the rear wall of this space, opening up the full width of the room to the rear garden.
The sunroom’s full-height deep-blue shelves are designed as a sort of cabinet of curiosities - a ‘wunderkammer’ - an apparatus to organise a diverse collection of sculptures, animal skulls, taxidermy, toy figurines, metal tins and vases, along with other more mundane items; stereo equipment, records and books - a collection that otherwise lacked a discernible coherent idea, theme or pattern. A mechanism in which to help organise and express the unique identity to the life of the owner.
‘Some things have no connection until they come into contact…When you put collected things together, they work in a sort of collage, the things could and should speak for themselves.’ Patrick Pound
"I want a place of beauty, low maintenance, and colours that remind me of the night sky in the central Australian desert. And somewhere to put my ever-growing collections. Make it happen Sam... Mission accomplished."
Pauline Healy - Elwood House
Material Used :
Floor Materials/Finishes
1. Ceramic Floor Tile: Samoa Antracita 435x659x11 (Earp Bros Code: Tdl26sa)
Wall Materials/Finishes
1. Wall Tile: Faun Plain Cement 200x200x16mm (Earp Bros Code: 25802)
2. Wall Tile - Feature: Oh Chilli Pattern Cement 200x200x16mm (Earp Bros Code: 29000)
3. Echopanel - Pin Board: 12mm Echopanel Navy Blue '365'
Joinery Materials/Finishes
1. Anodized Aluminium: Nom. 8mm Thk Anodized Aluminium Plate - Aaf Evershield (Colour: 'Smokey Quartz' E60tg Bright)
2. Stainless Steel Kitchen Bench Top: 10mm Thick Stainless Steel Plate. Satin Finish
3. Laminate Kitchen Bench Top: Fenix Nanotech Matt Material Laminate, 1.2mm With Matched Colour Core (Colour: Blue Fes 0754)
4. Laminate - Colour 1: Fenix Nanotech Matt Material Laminate, 0.9mm Standard (Colour: Blue Fes 0754)
5. Laminate - Colour 1: Fenix Nanotech Matt Material Laminate, 0.9mm Standard (Colour: Blue Fes 0754)
6. Laminate - Colour 2: Laminex - 'Fox' Natural/Flint Finish (080). 18mm E0 Mdf Or Melamine
7. Laminate - Colour 3: Laminex - 'Midnight' Natural Finish (464). 18mm E0 Mdf Or Melamine
8. Mdf 2-Pack - Colour 2: 2-Pack Finish To 18mm E0 Mdf - Dulux 'Tranquil Retreat' (Pg1f1) (To Match Lam 2)
9. Splashback: Stainless Steel Splashback. Satin Finish. 1.5mm Thick
Sanitary Fixtures & Fittings
Kitchen
1. Bin - Kitchen: Pull-Out Bin/Recycling 2x32l 'One2five' System Set, 450mm X 500mm, In Grey (Hafele Code: 502.91.953)
2. Dish Washer: Miele, G6620scu-Clst, 600mm Built-Under Dishwasher, Cleansteel (From Michaels)
3. Hanging Rack: Sheilamaid Adjustable Hanging Rack. 1500x600
4. Sink - Kitchen: Franke Bow Box 210-36 Single Bowl Sink. 450x400mm (Reece Code: 2400785)
5. Oven/Stove: Ilve Quadra Series 90cm Freestanding Cooker. (P90fwmp)
6. Pull-Out Corner Storage: Lincoln Group Vs Core Fold – Saphir Right Hand – Grey Frame With Saphir Baskets (1.471.198) )
7. Tap - To Kitchen Sink: Franke 'Centinox' Kitchen Mixer, Stainless Steel (Franke Code: Ta5120)
8. Range Hood: Qasair, Ndch90l2t, 900mm 'Executive' 2-Motor Under Cupboard Top Duct Rangehood, Stainless Steel
9. Refridgerator: Fisher & Paykel - Activesmart Bottom Mount 680mm Wide 442l (Code: E442brxfdu5)
10. Bar Refridgerator: Hisense 30 Bottle Wine Cooler (Goodguys Code: Hr6wc30)
Bathrooms & Laundry
1. Bath: Posh Domaine Inset Bath 1420x800x500mm (Reece Code: 9508059)
2. Bottle Trap & Waste: Bottle Trap (Rogerseller Code: 3806000001) Include: Up & Down W/ Overflow (3811000201)
3. Mirror Cabinet: Forme Shaving Cabinet 'Logan 900' 900x750x150 2 Door (Bunning Code: 4843761)
4. Mirror Cabinet: Forme Shaving Cabinet 'Logan 600' 600x750x150 2 Door (Bunning Code: 4843758)
5. Shower Channel Grate Waste: Veitch Original Shower Channel - 'Aqua' Grate (Or Similar Approved)
6. Shower Curtain Rail: Reclaimed Copper Rail
7. Shower: Flow Dual Shower Rail Combination Chrome (Rogerseller Code: 123002)
8. Shower: Flow Hand Shower On Rail With Wall Union Chrome (Rogerseller Code: 123004)
9. Tap - To Bathroom Basins: Arq Basin Mixer Chrome (Rogerseller Code: 3606003501)
10. Tap - To Bathroom Showers & Bath: Arq Wall Mixer (Rogerseller Code: 3606003301)
11. Spout - To Bath: Logic Wall Bath Outlet 150mm (Rogerseller Code: 3606001801)
12. Tap - To Laundry Trough: Phoenix Vivid Slimline Pull Out Gooseneck Kitchen Mixer Chrome (Phoenix Code: Vs7105-00)
13. Washing Machine Taps: Scala Washing Machine Stops (Reece Code: 2261429)
14. Toilet Paper Holder: Project Paper Holder (Rogerseller Code: 428294)
15. Hand Towel Rail: Catalano Premium 50 Towel Rail (Rogerseller Code: 213657)
16. Towel Rail: Mizu Soothe Double Towel Rail 750mm Chrome (Reece Code: 9504047)
17. Towel Rail Heated - Existing: Existing Heated Towel Rail
18. Basin: Catalano Premium Up 100 Washbasin. Single Tap Hole (Rogerseller Code: 2137302)
19. Basin: Catalano Premium 50 Washbasin. Single Tap Hole (Rogerseller Code: 2136561)
20. Laundry Trough: Clark Square 35l Laundry Sink, 1 Tap Hole (Clarke Code: Cl20001.1)
21. Toilet: Vitra S-Line S70 Alto Rear Inlet Toilet Suite With Pila Slim Seat (Rogerseller Code: 117110)
