Explore the possibilities of James Hardie products through these two home renovations: a new extension of a 1930s bungalow and an addition of a home studio.
Futureproof
With their elegant detailing and sense of history, heritage homes can be rich with charm. However, that doesn't mean they are well-equipped for modern living. This detail did not deter Anita, who came into this 1930s California bungalow with a clear vision for its future, while still respecting its past.
The art of planning
While searching for a new home for her family, Anita was driven by a mix of practicality and instinct. “I had a checklist. It had to be a certain size, a certain location and have good bones. And I had a gut feeling. I knew when I walked in. I knew what I wanted: open-plan, with a high and raked ceiling,” she explains. Undeniably charming from the front, the home had the potential to accommodate an open, light-filled extension to cater to the indoor-outdoor lifestyle of a modern family.
Practical magic
This clear-eyed and workable approach extended to Anita’s choice of cladding. She loved
Hardie™ Exterior Cladding Solutions and, and in particular, the wide board profile of Hardie™ Stria™ Cladding. Anita knew it was tough enough to take this home into the future. “I’ve used it before on my last home, which was right on the coast and gets battered by nature. So I knew it was durable,” she says.
Stria™ Cladding was also a perfect fit for the design Anita envisioned. “My familiarity and experience with Stria™ Cladding really informed how the design would come about,” she explains. “I was able to achieve the angles and shapes I wanted for the whole back extension.” Without being limited by the durability issues of timber or the weight worries of masonry, Anita and architect Lyndal Williams of My Architect could get the exact result Anita wanted. The cladding’s aesthetic gave the design a point of difference, defining the extension's clean, modern look. In addition, it was easy to install.
Modern classic
While she adored the historic charm of the original home, Anita wanted the extension to tell a new story. “I was keen to find a period house and restore it, protecting it for the future, but I wanted something different to distinguish the front of the house from the rear,” she says. Switching the exterior cladding materials from front to back was a simple design trick that nailed the narrative. “The original weatherboards were horizontal, and I wanted something vertical and different,” Anita explains. The vertical lines of Stria™ Cladding emphasise the high ceilings in the extension, while clearly marking this zone as a new chapter in the home’s history.
Tip: When selecting materials, consider not just how they look but also their durability and maintenance needs.
Building for balance
Working from home was a challenging adjustment for many, including interior designer Rhiannon Lee of Oleander & Finch Interiors, who was working around her three young boys – not exactly an environment to foster creativity! Moving her work from dining table to dedicated office space was an essential next step for her flourishing business.
Designer’s tricks
Rhiannon’s home in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges is modern country style – a little rustic, a little luxe – and she wanted a space that would complement the home while embracing a more contemporary aesthetic. Rhiannon is a moodboard master, so she set to work on a vision for the exterior. “It allowed me to mix up finishes and exterior choices like colours and lighting,” she says. Having specified James Hardie products for clients, she knew the range well – the only challenge was deciding which cladding to choose!
The perfect fit
With a modern space in mind, Rhiannon realised flat panel cladding was the obvious choice, but Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding offered something extra. “I am obsessed with organic and textural details across all of my designs, and once I received samples of a few different choices so I could tangibly look and feel the product, I was sold,” says Rhiannon. “I love that it’s a soft, warm material, too." Painted a delicate, muted tone, the smooth, natural sand texture of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding adds warmth, sitting comfortably in the landscape and reflecting the contemporary-classic style for which Rhiannon is known.
Bringing it all together
Building the studio was a family D.I.Y. effort using mostly local and reclaimed materials. All up, the build took three months' of weekends. "The Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding went on in a weekend and, excluding the sub-floor, the deck took about an hour to build; it was such a simple D.I.Y.,” Rhiannon said. The impact of the project has been extraordinary, giving Rhiannon an inspiring space for her work, while preserving the home as a place for family life.
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Photo Credit: James Hardie
