Greendale House Extension

Property Shop Property Tips

TROIKA DESIGN WORKSHOP (TDW) IN ASSOCIATION WITH THEIR SISTER COMPANY TURNBURY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS HAVE JUST COMPLETED RENOVATIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO WHAT WAS A FAIRLY MODEST HOUSE IN GREENDALE. THE FAMILY HOME WAS PROBABLY BUILT IN AROUND THE 1950’S AND WAS FAIRLY TYPICAL OF THE TIME. IT HAD THREE BEDROOMS AND A FAMILY BATHROOM ALL LEADING OFF A SINGLE PASSAGEWAY. TDW WAS APPROACHED BY THE FAMILY TO ADD A FOURTH MASTER BEDROOM AND EN SUITE, AS WELL AS TO UPDATE AND MODERNISE BOTH THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE.

TDＷwas approached by the family to add a fourth master bedroom and en suite, as well as to update and modernise both the interior and exterior of the house. They came up with the design for the renovations and extensions while associate company Turnbury Property Developers acted as the main contractor and project manager. By handling the design details, the specifications and procurement of the materials, the main construction and the various sub-contractors TDW and Turnbury were able to provide a turnkey service giving their clients the best quality end product both on time and on budget – something fairly unusual in the current building industry climate. They’ve not only made the home much more liveable and practical, they’ve made it much more attractive and appealing too. Oh, and they’ve also added a great deal of value to the property!

From the street a new solid brick boundary wall and an automatic electric gate add curb appeal and improve security. The gate and the intercom were supplied by City Fabricators who also supplied the pergolas around the house. A new paved driveway provides guest parking and turning space and leads to a double lock up garage with automated roll down doors supplied and fitted by Taps Homes and Designs. There’s an additional carport for visitors supplied by Shades Ahead.

Next to the garage TDW has designed a new verandah and outdoor seating area in front of the lounge for outdoor entertaining. Large aluminium and glass concertina doors provide easy access from the lounge and also make the lounge seem bigger and more connected to the garden. They’ve added a balustrade all around the verandah as the family has dogs and they didn’t want them sleeping or jumping on the outdoor furniture. Luckily Turnbury was working on another similar project and they were able to source some roof tiles which exactly match the existing ones, so the roof extensions for the garage and the verandah blend in seamlessly – just a coat of paint was needed over the whole roof to refresh the look.

The main front door entrance was originally into the lounge from where the garage is now situated. TDW moved the front entrance to the left of the verandah and installed an impressive solid teak pivot door with a clear glass fixed side panel. TDW designed a walkway to the front entrance of large paving slabs interspersed with smooth white pebbles for contrast and texture. A stone clad wall to the left of the entrance separates the bedroom wing and provides some privacy. The front door is set slightly back under the eaves for protection from sun and rain and now opens into a small foyer space leading directly to the dining room and lounge.

The dining room and lounge are a single open plan space which is unusual for homes built at that time. Perhaps opening up the two spaces was the result of earlier renovations however the open flow works well. White porcelain floor tiles and plain white walls help to make the space feel bigger and brighter. TDW has designed a wide bulkhead running around the edges of the ceiling with concealed shadow lighting as well as LED downlighters for general ambiance.

The old existing wood burning fireplace has been replaced by a simple, modern gas fireplace with an elegant, minimalist stone surround – supplied and fitted by Fitt Interiors. The gas fireplace is far more efficient and less messy and smoky. The widescreen TV fits perfectly above the mantle with concealed wiring and cabling.

A single door leads to the kitchen which has been extended back about a metre and completely refitted. A new aluminium window has been fitted above the sink and a new solid teak door opens to a small covered verandah and the back yard. The kitchen has sleek, plain white cabinets with soft-touch opening drawers and doors, and pale grey Easy Quartz counter tops. The cabinetry was installed by Amazing Interiors. The splashback tiles have a series of embossed blue and grey dots and circles on a plain white background to add a splash of colour and texture.

The exterior door opens onto to a small covered verandah that runs across the back of the house and provides access to the adjacent scullery and inverter room and also provides access to the garage. The inverter is a state of the art Victron 5Kva solar system with lithium ion batteries so the whole house can run off grid if needed. There are also two solar geysers on the roof and 12 solar panels to harvest free energy. The property has two boreholes so water supply is never a problem.

From the open plan lounge and dining area the original passageway leads to three bedrooms, a guest toilet and a family bathroom. Two bedrooms face the front of the house – one with large new windows and the second one with windows and a sliding door opening onto the front patio. The third bedroom faces the back of the house and also has sliding doors opening onto the back porch. New porcelain floor tiles continue from the lounge, down the passageway and into the bedrooms so there’s an easy flow of space. New ceilings have been installed throughout with recesses for concealed curtain rails and all the bedrooms have generous built in cupboards. TDW has even added additional power sockets in the bedrooms for TVs and other modern gadgets.

At the end of the original passageway TDW has created an entirely new master suite with a large bedroom, a dressing room and a luxurious en suite bathroom with a shower and a freestanding tub. The bathroom is clad in travertine tiles which provide a soft peachy glow and add a sense of sophistication and elegance. The master bedroom, unlike most of the rest of the house, has Traviloc vinyl wood-look floors (supplied and fitted by Interfloors) which gives the room a softer and warmer feel.

The exterior of the house has been given a fresh coat of a pale stone colour with dark grey architraves around the doors and windows. The colours match with the stone cladding on the verandah pillars and the entrance wall. The slatted metal pergola that runs across the front of the house provides some shelter from the afternoon sun and adds interest to the simple linear façade. In time creepers will grow up the pillars and across the slats to soften the exterior even more and blend the house into the garden. As with most residential construction projects the garden has been somewhat damaged and neglected, but new landscaping is part of the future development of the home.

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TDW SUPPLIERS LIST

TDW TURNBURY CITY FABRICATORS FITT INTERIORS AMAZING INTERIORS INSO ALUMINIUM LENDEL TRADING TAPS HOMES AND DESIGNS PRIME WORLD SHEMAK HOME IMPROVEMENTS EEZY STAIRS SHADES AHEAD SOLARWAVE SOLAR SYSTEM BATHROOM BOUTIQUE RM PLUMBING WORLD UNION HARDWARE CITY GLASS INTERFLOORS INTERGAS HALSTEDS

Hopefully the owners will be happy in their new home for many years to come! To contact Troika Design Workshop: Visit: 9 Maiden Drive, Newlands, Harare Email: info@troikadesignworkshop.com Call: +263 8677 008 490