Where Old Meets New Natural, timeless, and downright gorgeous – those are words that spring to mind when looking at this pre-war home. WORDS: Natasha Pavez PHOTOGRAPHY: John Downs When looking at most renovated homes, it’s easy to see exactly where the old house once sat, especially when it has to be retained. But this Camp Hill home is a seamless blend of old and new, with a classic, natural feel throughout. For owner Danielle, it was important the house kept the character of its previous life, while taking on a Hamptons-style look. Project architect John Cunningham, of Cunningham Designs, describes this as a first. “It was unusual that it had to actually retain the character and carry that through the whole house,” he explains. “It’s not old, it’s not new – it’s in between.” Danielle knew that she could leave the design up to John and return to the home she dreamed of. Finding a builder was the next step, and in came Duayne Pearce of D Pearce Constructions. “We were always going to have Duayne because John spoke so highly of him,” Danielle recalls. “And it was completely justified.” To achieve the Hamptons look, the house has been built with recycled and natural materials. The result? A classic atmosphere that will stay in style for years to come. To carry the natural style through the home, stone walls were added to define the living and dining rooms. Bretts Architectural Solutions fit custom-made commercial-framed glazing around the feature wall to let in light. For John, this is the defining feature of the home: “It forms a nice feature, while 188
also offering lots of privacy.” Continuing the classic yet earthy feel, the stone motif is scattered throughout the home, both inside and out. Downstairs in the cellar, there’s a different look. To give this room the same touch as the rest of the house, Duayne cleverly sourced more recycled materials, including bricks from an old Melbourne cottage. Exposed brick walls give the room a rustic feel, while metal light fittings and wine racks modernise the look. Using recycled wood to frame the wine racks softens the rough feature – an old-fashioned room that’s still completely at home in the 21st century. Upstairs, the house has maximised its location, utilising the block to its best advantage. Spacious decks use the north-facing aspect, giving the family entertainment areas that can be used all year round. Both areas contain built-in barbecues, and the upstairs balcony has stunning city views. The aluminium cavity stacker doors were manufactured by Bretts Architectural Window Solutions, who were also responsible for the custom-made aluminium casement windows and French doors on the façade, perfectly keeping in with the pre-war architecture. Best of all for Danielle, the sliding doors recede into the walls – with all the doors pushed back, there is virtually no back wall on the house. “The combination of the space, the airiness and the openness is beautiful,” she says. “The flow is fantastic.”