Staying Local

Neighbourhood harmony is not usually the first thought that springs to mind when demolition and construction are concerned. However in a quiet suburb of Brisbane’s inner SE, the owners wisely set out to integrate their own personal design ideas with careful consideration of the street’s existing homes.

The owners purchased a 54 perch block with 2 pre war homes, so before embarking on the rebuilding process, the existing two timber weatherboard homes were removed from the site.

"We were conscious of the fact that we did not want our home to stand out like a sore thumb, ensuring that our new home was built to be reflective of traditional architecture and maintain and enhance the character of the streetscape." Home owners said

“We chose finishes, materials and paint colours to complement the other pre war homes in the area.”

Built by RBC Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd and materials supplied by Finlayson’s, this house is a mix of traditional construction materials blending with a modern tone.

The exterior of the home utilises a variety of Finlayson’s product range including traditional timber cladding for the walls, Envirowood solid timber windows and doors, archways and gable features.

"The exterior of our home has been invigorated extensively with the use of Finlayson’s product." Homeowners adds.

Being such a busy street, privacy and soundproofing were paramount so rendered block work and metallic custom sheeting were used as a nice, modern feature fencing on the home.

Broad sandstone tile steps lead to a traditional front entry and once inside modern design, open space and a decidedly refreshing interior reign. The home has a cool, clean, luxurious look.

In terms of layout, the house consists of two levels. On the open-plan upper level, which is dedicated to ‘Living’ includes a generous master bedroom with walk in wardrobe and ensuite, study, family room, kitchen, large living and dining areas.

An open timber staircase connects the main living areas, arranged over two levels. The stairs open on the main volume of kitchen, dining and living space upstairs whilst connecting to the rumpus room downstairs. Both the living and rumpus areas open out through Envirowood bi-fold doors to a substantial north-facing verandah with beautiful hardwood decking boards.

The family room’s Envirowood stacking doors open wide to reveal the swimming pool and tennis court area. This harmonious feature is also functional, creating a visual distraction from the streetscape below.

The positioning of the house encourages the capturing of maximum northerly breezes and excellent cross ventilation for the entire upper level, and also captures wonderful city view over the old Red Cross building.

The lower level is equally impressive. Beyond the initial impact of the entry into the rumpus room, a home theatre, and a gym a small hallway leads to 4 bedrooms, main bathroom and laundry.

They have created a modern family home that retained the elegance of a traditional Queenslander but which delivered clearly defined living areas, and emphasised a central space where the family could come together.

When asked why the use of Finlayson’s product, Simon Craig, Director of RBC Constructions explains:

“Finlayson’s have long standing experience in the industry as both manufacturers and suppliers of quality materials, and the expertise of their staff in assisting our clients in making their final selections.”

Simon says, "The biggest challenge of this home was the feature fret work to gables, and this required personal assistance from the Finlayson technical staff."

"Other than that the home was very labor intensive and you need to have highly skilled trades people."

Home owners add, “RBC constructions stood by there philosophy that is, to maintain the highest level of integrity, quality, service and stability. They make building a new home an enjoyable experience by instilling in us (the clients) the confidence that the job will be done on time, on budget, and with minimum fuss.

In its entirety, this home is somewhat of a design feat - reborn for the modern ethos, yet crafted so beautifully that it blends perfectly with the neighbouring houses.

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