An Australian Couple Gives Their Home an Airy Renovation Before Retirement

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

For a couple approaching retirement in Orange, New South Wales, Australia, welcoming the future meant ushering their newly purchased 1980s-era home out of the past. They hired David and Sally Sutherland from Source Architects, along with interior designer Micaela Outtrim, to reimagine the space as a serene, sophisticated haven befitting a soon-to-be-leisurely lifestyle.

Advertisement

While the architects worked within the original home's framework, the transformation was anything but simple. The team removed walls, ripped out flooring, and restructured rooms, creating better-defined spaces and new, shared areas, including a breakfast nook. Replacing the dark slate floors with timber opened the space up and set the tone for a neutral palette throughout. The result is a chic, livable home that perfectly sets the stage for a relaxing retirement.

Video of the Day

Video of the Day

Expand
entrance
1 of 7

Entrance

[object Object]

The team replaced the dark, slate floors with Flooring Quick Step Vinyl Timber Plank in Drift Oak. By removing the original flooring carefully, the team was able to preserve the preexisting floor-heating system.

Expand
kitchen
3 of 7

Kitchen

White walls are painted in Dulux Fair Bianca - Half Strength to reflect natural light in the home. The light-colored, well-organized, and open kitchen presents a stark contrast to the cramped and dark feel of the original.

Expand
kitchen cabinet
4 of 7

Kitchen

Appliances by Miele give the kitchen a timeless appeal that will last for years to come. A sink by Clarke fits in a minimalist aesthetic.

Expand
office
5 of 7

Office

Custom joinery by Zylem uses a combination of steel, timber, and a painted finish to set separate tones for each space. In an open layout that has an ample amount of shared space, it's necessary to dedicate a unique sense of purpose in the different rooms. Curtains by Material World are opaque enough to not block light from pouring in.

Expand
fireplace
6 of 7

Fireplace

By sticking with three color tones–black, white, and timber–the design can manage big pieces, like this fireplace, without feeling cramped.


Advertisement

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...