Reader's home
Thu, 15 Dec 2011
Sarah emailed to share her house.
We have just finished (but not completely styled) a renovation of our 1880s workers cottage in Adelaide, South Australia . As a bit of an amateur designer, I drafted a plan and gave it to an architect whose house I'd seen at an open inspection 5 years previously. I tracked her down (Sophie Fielder) and when we met for the first time couldn't believe our eyes when we discovered we had the same photos in our scrap books! We even had photos from the internet of houses in other states! Due to budget constraints and the love of a challenge, I project managed the job with our builder and we're thrilled with the result. We wanted to create a home with a slightly industrial/warehouse/barn feel that was practical and didn't waste space.
The garden is yet to grow but already it is a sanctuary with birds and chooks (over the back fence!) waking us up each morning and we absolutely adore the 50 year old olive tree right outside our bedroom window.
I've already informed Sarah to expect me any moment, bags in hand, because I'm moving in. What a wonderful marriage of old and new.
The house before they started and a few demolition shots.
Reader Comments (37)
That is incredible!! I love that house.
Really beautiful job! The house looks amazing - well done!
I love the candy stripe on the roof over the front porch - pity it isn't there after the renovation. Perhaps a slate gray candy stripe to tie in with the fence colour? Just a thought.
Awesome job, Sarah! Love it!
I love the kitchen and yellow door!!
Mother in law
One of the nicest homes I've seen for a very long time. Congratulations!
Wow. Just beautiful! From the very first picture I just a knew it was an Adelaide house. Sarah, it doesn't need any more styling, it's gorgeous already :)
Thank you everyone! It's a very personal thing, creating a home, so I really appreciate your lovely words. Bob... I thought your suggestion about the verandah was a possibility but my husband hated the stripes so they won't be coming back!!
I only live a couple of minutes from this house and quite often drive down the street - I only drove past yesterday and thought how great it looked - glad to have been able to see how fantastic it looks from inside - well done I love it!
Yet another beautiful, sensitively designed house with a dead animal sprawled on the floor. Why do people do this?
Congrats Sarah!! The photos look amazing. Such a great credit to the hard work and effort you have poured into this labour of love.
It's perfect!
So much character as well as a fantastic make-over. Great work Sarah and John
Wow! The outside front of the house is deceiving. The inside is so appealingly open.
The open shower concept in the bathroom is of interest to me. I wonder if the tile floors need to be specially sealed and if the water travels over the entire floor and if it is slippery? I would like to do this in my home.
Well done rehab although the animal's skin on the floor in the living area is conflicting. It's sad because it is mentioned that the garden is a sanctuary for the birds.
lovely house, just perfect, even with the "dead animal sprawled on the floor". i do wish the anti-animal hide people would just take a chill pill. funny they don't speak up every time there's a leather couch, or is it just the shape of the animal that is offensive to them?
Gorgeous! I would live there in a heartbeat!
Perfection!! That´s it, just one word....
Love, love love!
How lovely! I love the flow to the outdoor space. Very cohesive -- I don't think you can call yourself an amateur anymore! xoxo
Wow wow wow wow wow. Wow.
What a lovely house. That kitchen is a dream.
@polishchick since you asked, yes, it is the animal shape. To me personally it makes me think of roadkill - flattened skin in an animal shape. And it just makes me sad.
Love how you opened up the back of the house to the outdoors. Also love the recurring yellow/chartreuse. Wish we could live this "al fresco" in Philadelphia!
perfection! bravo!
Cool place! Parts of it feel a little more pretentious than comfortable or practical, but that exterior wall is great!