Beachside extension enhances family holidays
In 1997, a Melbourne couple with teenage children purchased a small timber cottage amongst the Ti-tree, a short walk from a beautiful beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. The house had served them well for summers at the beach and relaxing around an open fire on cold winter weekends, but as the family grew and grandchildren added to the numbers utilising this one-time peaceful haven, it was time to move to phase two of the grand plan.
Award-winning designer Graham Jones had designed the original cottage, and it seemed logical to seek him out once more. The brief called for two additional bedrooms, bathroom, laundry and a sitting room large enough to house a second family who could enjoy their own privacy away from the main house.
“As lovers of contemporary architecture and art, the owners placed no restrictions upon us as to the style of the new extension,” says Jones. “They relished the suggestion that the design might be juxtaposed to its original cottage form, clad in weathered timber. The result, a clean, minimal, almost art-gallery feel with high ceilings and white-on-white interiors, has far surpassed their expectations. Exterior surfaces of aluminium Alucobond and Colorbond corrugated Bluescope steel balance beautifully with large expanses of glass, opening to endless entertaining decks encompassing the old and the new.
“An existing bedroom has become the new open study, providing seamless access into the new extension via stairs and a glass link towards the rear of the property. The extension unfolds from this link into a light-filled, glass gallery, where solid white walls seem purpose-built to carry the fine artworks displayed. A flueless Eco Fire adds warmth and an orange glow seemingly reflecting onto the walls in the form of art.
“A stainless-steel, commercial-style built-in bar and coffee machine have been included in the sitting room, providing guests with a practical kitchen alternative, maintaining privacy from the main house. The two additional bedrooms, bathroom and laundry are simple, contemporary and functional. The remainder of the existing residence has been repainted and freshened up with new contemporary furniture, creating a stylish and relaxing ambience throughout.
“One of the more unusual challenges was site access and the steep fall of land at the rear of the property, with the extension sitting on sub-frame approximately three metres out of natural ground at lowest point.
“The client is ‘over the moon’ — but not just with the design! Excelcon produced an extremely high-quality product, and from the client’s perspective, were a delight to deal with in every aspect of the construction of the project. Excelcon are equally excited with the end result. My personal favourite part of the renovated space is the link from the existing house to the new extension, the main sitting room of the extension.”
The project was designed by:
COMPANY NAME: Graham Jones Design
ADDRESS: Shop 8/1a Main Street Mornington VIC 3931
PHONE: (03) 59758747
EMAIL: info@grahamjonesdesign.com.au
WEBSITE: www.grahamjonesdesign.com.au
The project was built by:
COMPANY NAME: Excelcon Pty Ltd
PHONE (03) 8795 7044
Photography: Andrew Ashton
Project Particulars
FLOORING: Tasmanian oak
WALLS: Gyprock
KITCHEN: Joinery by Andrew Gallagher
WINDOWS + EXTERNAL DOORS: Stegbar
EXTERNAL CLADDING: Alucobond aluminium cladding and Bluescope Steel corrugated Custom Orb cladding