I hope you’re enjoying this new series of before and afters on my blog. It’s going to be a regular feature because I want to share renovations from every day people. Today’s evolving renovation has been done by a professional building designer and her builder husband.
If you have recently renovated or you’re a company in the business of renovating, I’d love to feature your work on The Plumbette. Just send through a message via my contact form and we can share your work online, while linking back to your website or Facebook page.
Today’s Before and After is from a long time reader and supporter of The Plumbette, Susan Hobbs. I had no idea how talented Susan was until she shared her evolving renovation with me. Susan always has a kind word on my Facebook page and I’m really excited to share her home with you.
Susan is a QBCC licensed building designer and with her hubby (who is a licensed builder), they have been renovating their house in Westlake for the last 14 years.
They moved into their home one month before their son was born. I love Susan’s story of renovating her home, because I believe it will be the potential model of many homeowners in the future who will consider renovating their home continually, rather than building new or renovating an alternate home. If you love where you live, renovating your home every decade or so may be the way to ensure your home grows with you.
Susan’s home has seen many renovations and changes as a result. Since living in the home, the kitchen has been renovated twice and the main bathroom will be renovated in the next 12 months for the second time to address some wear and tear after 13 years of use.
Let’s check out the kitchen before it was renovated the first time.
This is how the kitchen was renovated in 2003.
Ten years later, the kitchen got renovated again. In 2013, this kitchen won a HIA award for best designed.
Originally, the home was a typical budget Hooker home, built in 1972 containing 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 living area and a single garage.
Since the renovations, the house now has 4 bedrooms plus a large study, 2 bathrooms, 2 living areas plus 2 larger entertaining outdoor areas and a double carport. There are also 2 x 9000 litre rainwater tanks under the extension.
The extension was where Susan’s daughters lived, but they have now moved out, so Susan and her hubby are currently converting this space into a master suite with his and her walk-in-robes.
The style of the extension and renovation is ‘modern Queensland’ through the use of timber and tin. It is clad with Colorbond sheeting and Weathertex and the curved ceiling is lined internally with custom-orb zincalume, with the curved Hynebeams left exposed.
Susan has also incorporated similar features inside and outside of the main house as well. The section of angled wall along the back of the house is actually in the ensuite’s shower cubicle, which provided much needed elbow room without increasing the floor area.
I think you can agree that this house is unique and warm, and has evolved beautifully as the family have grown.
Thank you Susan for sharing your home with us. All the best with the renovation of the bathroom and your main bedroom suite. We look forward to maybe seeing these on the blog in the future!
