From Rags to Riches: Queensland Homes Summer 14

From Rags to Riches A much-needed renovation by MCD Construction allows this 1920s house to shine again.

WORDS: Natasha Pavez When this Teneriffe home first went on the market, it was dubbed a renovator's dream – an apt description if ever there was one. Well past the point of simply needing a fresh coat of paint and a spring clean inside, it was ready for serious upgrades on the inside to make it liveable for this professional couple and their young family. And so, the

114

owners brought in two experts: Hayes Lynch Anderson Architects for the design, and MCD Construction to see it through to completion.

90 years of neglect certainly showed in this home, which MCD Construction's founder, Cameron McDonald, recalls only too well.

"The original house was in such bad shape one of my carpenters fell

PROJECT

through the floor while walking across it," he says. 80% of the damaged exterior structure had to be replaced, while the owners requested a large contemporary extension to meet their current needs. It wasn't easy – the tight inner-city block provided little room for changes – and the subsequent nine month job was full of hard labour and backbreaking work.

The results were, in a word, luxurious, creating a space that sits majestically alongside its neighbour, the historic Teneriffe House. Designed tastefully to pay homage to the home's heritage, the combination of timber and tin textures provide an easy link to the modern-day space the home now occupies. The old and new areas of the home meet with a three-storey open housed staircase, constructed from elegant wood in warm tones, while stylish hand pendants marry the areas' classic tones with ease.

"This home is an entertainer's delight," Cameron says. "It really does have the lot." And it's hard to disagree. With six bedrooms and multiple living spaces, the home really sings when filled with family and friends, yet is equally as welcoming for its day-to-day occupants. A chic shaker-style kitchen overlooks the north-facing deck (complete with stunning river views), while the family can easily enjoy a lazy barbecue on a summer afternoon as the children play in the pool.

For a bit of that much-needed solitude craved by every parent, a welcoming retreat sits atop the third level modern extension. Limestone tiles and slabs, expertly installed by a master stonemason, complete the opulent feel. The owners

115

PROJECT

can look across at views of Moreton Bay from the comfort of their own bedroom; the lower section of the extension (or "The Pod," according to Cameron) features an en-suited home office to truly keep the parents' sanctuary wholly theirs.

Stepping outside the home, the landscapes are equally as delightful. "They're a credit to the home's owners and the craftsmen from MCD Construction," says Cameron. Hand-built natural Blue Stone retaining walls border feature gardens, bursting with low-maintenance plants to keep gardening a pleasure rather than a chore. Terrace gardens and endless expanses of green are set off by landscape feature walls. And, as a must for the busy working parents, the entire design is selfmaintaining thanks to underground water tanks cleverly hidden beneath the tiled retaining area.

Navigating a small city block and the ravages of time, MCD Construction has created a haven that's perfect for a modern couple and their family.

MCD CONSTRUCTION Phone: 1300 808 884 116