Renovated 1930s Australian beach house

When you see a renovated 1930s Australian beach house that has been produced by the talented Lucy Glade Wright, founder of Hunting for George, and her husband Jonno, you know that it is going to be a treat.  This house is everything it should be.  Beautifully renovated with a simple approach that sits nicely into its environment.  Stunning and softly coloured interiors make it a fabulous place to come and relax in.  You can take the tour below and hear how Lucy and Jonno approached this renovation.

Lucy Glade-Wright, Designer at online homewares hub Hunting for George and her husband Jonno Rodd, wanted to transform their 1930s weatherboard beach shack on The Great Ocean Road, Lorne Victoria, into a relaxed holiday haven with enough room to accommodate their family and friends.

No strangers to renovations; Lucy and Jonno documented the entire process on their popular Hunting for George You Tube channel which boasts more than 205k subscribers. Not only did they restore the home, but they also added an extension turning it into a five-bedroom, five-bathroom Beach House.

“We’ve renovated a few houses now, but this was definitely our biggest project, and we had the added complication of having to photograph and film everything as we went,” said Lucy.

The first episode tracks the exterior transformation of the build which, according to Jonno needed to reflect a modern coastal design that complemented the existing home and its environment. They also wanted to future-proof the home to make it more efficient.

“Part of the exterior design requirements from council were to preserve the look of the existing building. The top half of the exterior had somewhat flat panelling, while the lower half had standard weatherboards. So, in order to get a modern look with the softness and charm of the original home we used Hardie^TM Fine Texture Cladding on the upper level and Linea^TM Weatherboards below, both by James Hardie,” said Jonno.

Lucy and Jonno chose Hardie^TM Fine Texture Cladding for the upper level of the Beach House because of its lightweight composition which makes the product incredibly easy to install and maintain.

The bush setting and proximity to the unforgiving elements of the ocean meant that the exterior finishes not only had to look amazing, but they also needed to be fit for purpose, low maintenance and durable.

Jonno explains, “we are in a BAL29 fire rating area, so it was very important to use materials that are resistant to fire and comply with the National Construction Code.”

“The home is also close to the ocean and exposed to a lot of different weather conditions, so the main consideration for us in addition to fire ratings was longevity. Linea^TM Weatherboards by James Hardie are also incredibly easy to use, the fact they come pre-primed and ready to paint was a real time-saver. By using the Hardie^TM exterior cladding products, we got the best of both worlds,” he said.

Lucy’s background in interiors and design meant that the couple had a very clear idea on what they wanted in terms of the design and functionality of the house. They had an architect work on the basic drawings for council approval and added assurance they were adhering to the council’s guidelines. Beyond that, Jonno and Lucy managed the entire build themselves.  Jonno said, “The whole process was fairly straightforward, my brother works in construction management, so he helped me manage timelines as well as working on the tools with Lucy and I”.  According to Jonno, the key to the success of the renovation was to work with their builder on a very detailed and concise scope prior to starting any work.

“Because our builder would only be completing some of the work while we were renovating the rest of the home, we needed to have every detail outlined in our contract. We had a number of exclusions in our scope because we were working on things like internal fit outs and painting ourselves. It’s vital that everyone involved understood their role and how everything was going to work before the project kicked off,” Jonno explained.

Jonno’s top tips to ensure your renovation is a success:

• Have a clear vision and plan before you start. Mood board your ideas, bring your selections together and work out your budget, so you can be confident in your decisions.
• If you have the ability to do it yourself, do it!  You can save money if you’ve got the time to do certain tasks yourself.
• Time Management is a big one. Create a schedule, share it with all involved and keep it up to date regularly.

 

What I love about this renovated 1930s Australian beach house

• I really like the use of Colorbond Windspray on the exterior.  This is often seen in Coastal homes as it is one of the Colorbond Ultra colours for use close to the Ocean.  I like it on the roofs of older homes too as it replicates the look of heritage properties really well and gives a nice nod to the original house.  I have a guide on how to use Colorbond Windspray here.
• The simple timber decking and balustrades of timber and wire suit a beach home perfectly.  It doesn't make the house look too sleek and helps to maintain the laid back feel that is important for this look.  More obvious than glass, it will nonetheless allow the coastal breezes through to the deck, which will be a blessing in the summer.
• I love the interior colour palette.  Beach homes should be used throughout the year as they can be just as welcoming in the winter months.  However they are usually just decorated for the warmer summer months and often lots of fresh cool white is used to work with a palette of blues and greens.  However Lucy has used a gorgeous soft blush tone which brings a feeling of comfort and softness to the scheme.  It really makes you feel as if you could relax in this space.  The accent colours are a green/blue which is the perfect accent complement to the warm blush tones and it is so refreshing to see walls that are not just white!
• The bathroom is divine.  Again, with lovely warm blush toned tiles and lots of timber, there is a beautiful flow through the home.

One of the hardest things is starting a renovation and defining your style.  Ensure you do this before you start and not as you progress through the project as the end result will not be as cohesive as it could be if there is a change in direction.  Read my post on How to define your decorating style for more inspiration.

Did you know that I have a Free Resource Library?  Whether you are building a new dream home or just undertaking a weekend redecorating project, there will be something there to help and inspire you.  Included in my library is a guide on how to put together a mood board.  You can download the free checklists and e-books here.

More information about James Hardie products can be found here