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Renovating this post-war home in Kenmore was a bit of a passion project for CARD co-founder Jimi Connor and his dad, David.
David and his partner Georgia had lived in the largely original 1960s house for a few years before deciding it was time to upgrade its laminate kitchen, segregated living spaces and install a much-needed laundry and second bathroom.
‘Many prospective buyers had considered demolishing the house, but a key driver for David was to retain as much of the existing home as possible,’ Jimi says.
‘This post-war Queenslander typology is often overlooked, and several similar homes on the street had already been replaced with project homes.’
The brief to transform the cottage while embracing the ‘solid bones’ of the original structure was very much in alignment with CARD’s own ethos: focusing on ‘no-frills’ architecture with a strong understanding of place, context and the environment.
Jimi designed a new-and-improved living zone, shifting these areas to the north and placing the bedrooms to the south, separated by a continuous wall of joinery.
This clever unit contains the kitchen, storage, a fireplace, bookshelves and hidden doors that neatly conceal access into the hallway.
Addressing the lack of connection to the outdoors, the updated, open-plan space now faces the backyard, with bi-folding glass doors that lead directly to a new garden pavilion — the humble hero of the renovation.
The 35-square-metre ‘outdoor room’ was designed as a seamless extension of the living area, with sustainably sourced Kwila and spotted gum framing that remains open to the elements, making the most of Brisbane’s subtropical climate.
‘It redefined how David and Georgia used the home, effectively doubling their living area and offering a sheltered space to host gatherings, cook, and relax outdoors,’ Jimi says.
The biggest challenge was working within a limited budget, which meant a significant portion of the work ended up being completed by David with some help from his friends and family.
He created the mosaic floor using leftover tiles sourced from Marketplace, in addition to pouring the concrete benchtops and laying the brickwork paths using salvage bricks from the existing property.
‘Despite its modest scale, the project demonstrates how thoughtful design and close collaboration with the client can overcome the constraints of a small house and a tight budget,’ Jimi adds.
