Bounty House is a reimagining of an original, dated nineties project home. Once burdened by an overbearing brick facade and a pokey interior layout, the home has been transformed thanks to a contemporary material palette featuring spotted gum hardwood timber and a new roof. A lush planter box stretching across the building's facade softens the exterior and breaks up the expanse of brickwork, whilst also providing a filter to the windows of the upper level bedrooms.

The original layout was once cramped and poorly arranged, leaving the family on top of one another without sufficient space for the activities of daily life. Through the renovation, the interiors were transformed with a modest one metre extension at the back of the house which was sufficient to entirely change the flow and function of the home. This small change saved the unnecessary cost of a major extension and did its job in unlocking the possibility of an open plan with a seamless flow between kitchen, dining and outdoor areas.

Originally, this home barely looked out to the beautiful bushland at the back of the block, and had poor access between the house and the yard. Comfortably and elegantly letting the outside in and framing the wonders that nature serves up is something we pride ourselves on, and the boundary between indoor and outdoor living is now blurred, allowing for a symbiotic relationship between the home and its environment. An open fireplace, bench seating, and a built-in barbecue—all constructed from the original bricks removed from the back wall of the original house—complete the outdoor room, offering a cosy retreat that truly brings the outside in.

Location:
Kirrawee, Sydney, Australia

Completed:
2018

Builder:
Belair Design + Build

Photography:
Andy Macpherson