This sumptuous modern beach house renovation in the relaxed coastal Sydney suburb of Coogee is a wonderful example of just what can be achieved with good design, attention to detail and expert craftsmanship.
The 25-year-old home has been transformed in a major renovation project by builder Darren Hall from Pride and Passion Pty Ltd. Darren described the home as having “good bones” but after a quarter of a century, this much-loved family dwelling needed lots of attention. “Extensive work was required to bring this structure back to life and modernise it,” says Darren.
The main body of work covered an array of internal structural changes, adding extra public and private living spaces that extended family and guests could enjoy. This also included alterations to wall locations and ground-level changes on the lower level.
This exceptional bespoke family beach house is a showstopper. Darren says one of the reasons for this was the fact that premium tailored materials and finishes were included throughout. “Every aspect of this build was a custom one-off item that forced us to innovate new construction methods to bring it all together,” he says. And bring it all together they did, in such an impressive fashion that passers-by think they’re looking at a brand-new home.
The homeowners’ children had all grown and flown the nest, so the idea was to create a forever home for the soon-to-be retirees and their changing needs. They also wanted to offer beautiful contemporary living spaces where family and guests had privacy and independent amenities for a comfortable extended visit. “The final result was three levels that are all virtually self-contained with their own bathroom and kitchen/kitchenettes,” says Darren.
There’s also a stunning new wine cellar to house the owners’ wine collection, and an elevator to service all three levels of the home. The elevator, Darren comments, was not part of the original plan; the owners requested it a few months into the build. “This really threw a spanner in the works! We designed this structural detail during the build,” he reveals.
With such an extensive renovation, Darren says there were a few challenges along the way, but nothing some good old-fashioned hard work couldn’t fix. The most noteworthy was the enormous amount of excavation from beneath the home that was required to create some of the new spaces. “The foundation was very soft sand, which meant it had to be undertaken in many stages with extensive underpinning along the way,” explains Darren.
Internally, a matt black and white colour palette, with blue and grey accents, harmonises with the organic natural stone slabs and striking timber oak flooring. The white V-board linings pay homage to the home’s location, adding a warm relaxed beachy feel.
Externally, the beach house has plenty of street appeal. Darren says they included a carefully considered and sourced blend of materials that complemented each other. “Spotted gum was used to contrast the stone and cement render surfaces that created a nice balance of textures,” he enthuses.
Each building project Darren completes is meticulously planned and executed and this project is no exception. His favourite part of the build is the one-of-a-kind steel staircase. “It’s the biggest talking point of the home and is something I am most proud of,” he says, adding that the complex structure in a three-level stairwell was a huge undertaking. “We had to coordinate every other aspect of these areas to ensure all junctions and finishes were clean and crisp.”
Darren says this three-level home was one of the most challenging projects he’s been a part of to date. “At the same time, it made it exciting and it brought the best out of me and everyone involved.” He is also quick to point out that not a single stone was left unturned to ensure this build was the best it could possibly be. “When most people ask me about this home, they think it’s a brand-new build,” he says. “Not only is that the biggest compliment you could give a renovation builder, it’s testament to the amazing workmanship of all involved.”
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