My Houzz: Cottage Out Front, Contemporary in the Back
First-time homeowners give an old house in Brisbane, Australia, a big and bright new future
Tamara Armstrong
March 17, 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Lifestyle Photographer and Visual Artist based in the beautiful surrounds of the Gold Coast hinterland in sunny Queensland.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Lifestyle Photographer and Visual Artist based in the... More
First-time homeowners Jose Barroso and Phoebe Valter, who met in primary school, saved every cent to put down a deposit on this property in 2012, when they were both 23. And while they have retained the bones and character of the front of the cottage, they have transformed it into a contemporary four-bedroom residence with generous living areas and a wealth of modern comforts.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jose Barroso, principal builder of Barroso Building, Phoebe Valter and their dog, Franki
Location: East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Size: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room
During the first year of owning their home, they spent weekends and evenings after work renovating the original 1890s cottage, and continued to save for the extension renovation. “Our families helped us out so much, which we are so grateful for,” Valter says.
Taking nine months off work in 2014, Barroso managed and completed most of the renovation himself. This allowed the couple to move back in their almost-finished home in July 2015. By December, after a long, hard year of renovating, the couple were finally able to sit back and feel proud of what they had achieved.
Who lives here: Jose Barroso, principal builder of Barroso Building, Phoebe Valter and their dog, Franki
Location: East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Size: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room
During the first year of owning their home, they spent weekends and evenings after work renovating the original 1890s cottage, and continued to save for the extension renovation. “Our families helped us out so much, which we are so grateful for,” Valter says.
Taking nine months off work in 2014, Barroso managed and completed most of the renovation himself. This allowed the couple to move back in their almost-finished home in July 2015. By December, after a long, hard year of renovating, the couple were finally able to sit back and feel proud of what they had achieved.
Barroso and his team of carpenters, along with his dad and Valter’s, did the construction work. They enlisted the design services of refreshdesign, with a key focus on maintaining the character and appearance of the original home from the curb.
A deliberate distinction in the shape of the old and the new was established, with a traditional roof on the existing house and a low-pitched shed roof on the extension. Lightweight siding, with textures similar to those on the existing house, was used on the extension to create a dialogue between the two. To balance the contemporary with the traditional, the house was divided into three parts: the existing house, the addition and the connection.
A deliberate distinction in the shape of the old and the new was established, with a traditional roof on the existing house and a low-pitched shed roof on the extension. Lightweight siding, with textures similar to those on the existing house, was used on the extension to create a dialogue between the two. To balance the contemporary with the traditional, the house was divided into three parts: the existing house, the addition and the connection.
From the new side entry of the house, visitors are drawn into a gradual expansion of the space with a clear view through to the backyard.
Having grown up in the neighboring Brisbane suburb of West End, Barroso and Valter were all too familiar with the hot and humid climate of this city.
Like all refreshdesign projects, this house takes advantage of passive solar design, natural ventilation and sustainable building materials.
Like all refreshdesign projects, this house takes advantage of passive solar design, natural ventilation and sustainable building materials.
One of Barroso’s biggest challenges on the project was building this floating staircase. Its original design and placement would’ve encroached on the space where the entryway meets the living room, and Barroso was certain that there had to be a more efficient way of designing it. “He obsessed over how to best make use of the space and was determined to make it float,” Valter says.
The stair treads are recycled wood from the recently demolished 1913 Bonded Stores building in Brisbane’s Margaret Street. They were old floor joists, and the original nail holes are still visible on the step nosing. Barroso also left the steel raw, simply treating it with Penetrol to create an industrial appearance that also enhances the recycled nature of the wood.
In front of the steps is another clever use of steel and wood, seen in this sliding door designed by Barroso. Slid one way, the door hides the entrance to a powder room and laundry. Slid the other way, it instead conceals this recessed shelving and cabinetry. Valter says it’s the ideal way to hide everyday clutter when people come to visit.
The powder room and laundry are located directly behind the sliding steel door just off the kitchen, and there’s an external door in the laundry to access the backyard.
The wood counter in the powder room is also from the historic Bonded Stores building. Barroso designed and had the sink custom made from steel, which he again coated with Penetrol. It’s unusual in design and appearance, and cost only $60.
The open-plan nature of the kitchen and living area, along with the generous wood-framed glass doors and windows, allows the outdoors to be seen from all indoor areas of the ground level.
A seamless connection of the living areas with the backyard was achieved through the installation of large operable doors. “Once you open those large sliding doors, the whole living area opens right up, and the space is just continuous,” Barroso says.
Valter and Barroso designed and made the dining table from formply.
Valter and Barroso designed and made the dining table from formply.
The downstairs living area is by far Barroso and Valter’s favorite spot in the house. They enjoy the connection between rooms, and it’s a prime spot for entertaining. “We love food so much, so it’s really nice to be able to cook in the kitchen and not feel disconnected from the rest of the guests, if they were in the lounge or even outside,” Valter says.
The marble used throughout the house is dark-veined Statuario in a light gray. The couple prioritized spending more money on certain parts of the house, and this included the kitchen becoming a main feature of home. “We wanted it to be a standout feature and really make the marble pop against the concrete floors and monument color cabinets,” Barroso says.
The feature lighting above the island countertop can be dimmed. “It’s actually just the right amount of light to have on when we are downstairs watching TV at night and don’t want to trip over getting up the stairs,” says Barroso, laughing.
The couple did much of the work on the house themselves, including polishing the concrete and even making this coffee table from leftover marble from the kitchen island. They also did the landscaping with a little help from Barroso’s dad, who has a green thumb.
One of the home’s landscaping triumphs is this mini ecosystem in the newly added courtyard between the old cottage and the contemporary extension. “We created a mini ecosystem within our pond feature,” Barroso says. The plants and fish make the system work, without the busy couple having to add or do anything to it.
“Saturday afternoons are our favorite day to sit in the courtyard,” Barroso says. “After cleaning the house, we can just look around our beautiful home and feel a real sense of accomplishment, especially at our age!”
On reaching the second floor via the extended section of the home, you’re immediately reminded of the existing cottage. It’s visible across the divide above the courtyard, and this is where the connection to the old home is accessible.
The black table from Morocco is made of tire tread.
The black table from Morocco is made of tire tread.
The connection between new and old is notably different from the other parts of the home. The breezeway bridge takes in an aerial view of the courtyard below and is an essential component of the renovation.
Barroso wanted the transition from the bridge to the original cottage to feel different but maintain a seamless connection. For the flooring of the new section, he used Australian spotted gum, which he noticed had similar coloring to the existing floorboards in the cottage.
The original kitchen, above, is now the study nook and entry. The original floorboards, wood-paneled walls and window remained, and now they work beautifully with the marble counter and industrial pendant lights. The couple have clearly paid homage to the home’s long history. Barroso says that they specifically wanted to honor the past in their renovation. “Not many people can say they own an 1800s workers cottage,” he says.
Two sizable bedrooms now sit at the front of the cottage. Barroso’s sister Helena helped the couple with the styling of their home. “Helena has such a great vision, and we loved the styling she had done in previous spaces for other clients of hers,” Valter says.
The main bedroom in the cottage is located where the previous living room once was. The door still opens to the front veranda, which is no longer accessible from exterior stairs. It instead provides a private balcony for this part of the home. Barosso also included built-in closets that are the same in all the bedrooms.
The couple wanted the main bathroom to be spacious and modern but still in keeping with the style of the rest of their home. The new windows above the bathtub, and in the powder room beside this space, face the new part of the home, which is a little nod to the fresh chapter in this old home’s life.
The house has a coherent flow all the way through, no matter what room you’re in, which is what the pair envisaged from the start. “We basically love simple and modern styles that are also practical, and we feel the house truly reflects that,” Barroso says.
Back in the modern extension, another guest and master bedroom make the prospect of having guests no trouble at all. They’re located at the rear of the home on the second floor.
The main bedroom also has an en suite. Statuario marble was used here as well, and the tiles are the same as those in the main bathroom, downstairs powder room and the laundry, which keeps the wet rooms consistent in design.
A balcony joins the two bedrooms and provides another outdoor area where the couple and their guests can enjoy the beautiful Queensland sunshine.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Amazing well done!!
Amazing! Love this story, well done!
A definite favourite! So easy to look at! It has such a very welcoming feel to it. You feel it’s lightness, the breeze moving through the home - that’s the power of good design and hard work paying off.
That courtyard - Love it!