It might be hard to imagine a commercial ladies’ toilet block morphing into a family
bathroom. Or a run-down industrial building transforming into a chic family dwelling. But with a dream to create something unashamedly unique, and with a design team to support that vision, these homeowners have come up trumps.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing the Facade
The new dwelling is a revelation. The existing property was full of asbestos, there were a couple of rusty old sheds in the backyard, a lawn and concrete yards with cyclone and barbed wire fencing. Homeowners Paul and Marie Sanders took on the challenge to convert an industrial-style building into a family home with their eyes wide open.
At the outset, a big hall, a rear kitchen, and a toilet block made up the building. The State Heritage listing restricted the homeowners’ ability to modify the facade. Paul says this was of little consequence to them. “We love the look of the facade — which is the original sandy-coloured exposed aggregate concrete walls that were poured on-site in the 1940s,” he notes.
A Warm and Functional Family Space
The house has a striking street presence, a monolithic concrete box 300m from the ocean. It was stripped back to a bare shell and the asbestos removed, along with new wiring, internal linings, plumbing and more. The main hall is the primary living space. It’s warm and welcoming, with soaring ceilings. Natural light pours in through generously proportioned windows.
To soften the industrial chic look, a modern fitout with organic materials including oak flooring and marble stone benchtops and splashbacks were fitted. Marie says a quality, modern fitout was important, and so too was designing living spaces to make entertaining a breeze. “We wanted to create a kitchen, meals and living area that was practical, spacious and perfect for entertaining, and one that was also elegant and timeless,” she explains.
Creative Reuse of Spaces and Modern Updates
A mezzanine level includes a bedroom, bathroom and study nook. The former kitchen is a makeshift bedroom, the ladies’ toilet block a second bathroom, and the gents’ toilet block is now a laundry (with the urinal still in place). There is also a new porch and large front deck and arbor.
This industrial chic abode is sublimely cool. It embraces its history, offering a contemporary family home with clean lines and modern amenities. With solid concrete walls and ceiling, the building offers great thermal insulation. Paul says it also ticks the box for sound insulation. “We’ve had a couple of parties inside with music pumping, but it can’t be heard from the outside,” he says. Low-E glazing was added for insulation and thermal performance, and louvre windows to capture cooling breezes.
Future Plans and Family Life in the Renovated Space
During the renovation, there have been a few interesting finds — one being an original sign on the stairwell that says “Danger 7600 volts”. “We had a local artist touch this up to refresh it and our lighting design features this as a piece of art,” says Marie.
It’s a project the homeowners are breaking up into bite-size bits. Stage one is just the hearty appetiser. There is more to come. A future extension is planned to include additional bedrooms, a new master suite (WIR and ensuite), two new living areas, an outdoor alfresco area, pool and a detached garage with studio/pool house/granny flat.
It’s been an incredible ride for this family with a growing tribe. One baby arrived while renovations were still in progress and another is on the way. They’re loving their forever home, although at the start of their journey, Paul says not everyone was convinced it was the right decision. “Our parents thought we were mad when we bought the property and continued to remind us that we were crazy,” he laughs.” “Once the works were finally complete, they could see our vision.”
