Kids these days - staying at home longer, living off their parents.
We’re not blaming them, it’s hard to buy a house at the moment, but Sarah is still living in the family home her parents bought 30 years ago.
She’s married with three kids and has a five-month old puppy.
Thankfully, for his sake, Dad downsized a while ago and is comfortable elsewhere.
This isn’t a story about kicking your kids out of the house.
This is a story of your kids kicking you out of the house.
Well, not really.
Just before Covid hit the nation, Sarah and husband, Myles, bought the family home in Adelaide’s east off her father, who was ready for something a little smaller.
“Luckily, he was very supportive,” Sarah said of her Dad’s willingness to hand over the keys.
He was happy the 1970s house was staying in the family, but there was an obvious attachment.
“Unfortunately, my mum passed away 11 years ago and Dad stayed in the large family home for a long time, as he loved the area and was hesitant to leave the house that held so many memories,” Sarah says.
Just over a year after the discussions first started, Sarah’s Dad found the perfect new home, and selling to his daughter – one of five children – made the transition easier.
But there was one catch. And this time, it wasn’t Covid.
“We said we would love to buy the property, but only if we could make it our own,” Sarah admits.
“I love that it was my family home but we wanted to make it feel like our home and not like we are living in my parents’ home.”
So, with Dad’s blessing, after living in the house for a year, they set out to do just that.
There were no major structural changes, and despite a number of proposed designs, the floor plan remained largely the same.
But everything was opened up.
The living room is now a bright, light-filled space that opens to the beautiful tree-lined backyard. The roofline of the pergola was altered to further maximise the view and accomplish one of the couple’s main goals of “bringing the outside in”.
That's the reason for the nature-inspired accents through the house, too.
Four doors were removed and, in one of the most significant changes orchestrated by interior designer Georgie Shepherd, the living room was also opened up from the entrance.
“It has made a huge difference to the feeling of space and light,” Sarah says.
“I love the open plan layout and the way the back garden feels connected to the kitchen and living room.”
Out, too, went the old, dark joinery, the window treatments and carpet.
In total, along with the kitchen and living areas, all four bedrooms were given a makeover, as were the three bathrooms, two of them reconfigured to suit the growing family’s needs.
The removal of the doors created two wings – one with the master bedroom and one for the kids.
And the old formal lounge and dining room have become a kids lounge and playroom - which kids are taking over again?
The exterior was transformed completely too, with the overpowering dark brick painted white with astonishing effect.
There are more open spaces now, but the selections and materials have also played a major in delivering on the brief.
“Relaxed Scandi” is the how Sarah describes the style, with a neutral base colour palette accompanied by timber and leather accents, along with brushed gun-metal features for contrast.
Sarah was able to quickly overcome her slight concern about where the wow factor would come amid the neutral selections, but, for Myles, it took a little longer.
“I was definitely challenged visualising what the interior was going to look like,” he laughs.
“Between Georgie, who acted as an independent mediator, and Sarah, however, they convinced me of the benefits of the natural materials especially the leathers, wood and linen textures.
“I resorted to using online software…by entering in our room dimensions we were able to move walls and furnishing back and forth again, and again. It helped us to appreciate the design in both 2D and 3D.
“Initially, I was very worried that the selections would result in the house being too neutral, but in the end, when all the elements had come together, I loved the design.”
“Myles was very patient with my changing mind,” Sarah adds with a laugh.
Myles was convinced on one thing, though, and that was a big, statement door.
But he didn’t exactly get it.
“I got talked down by Sarah who was then backed up by the builders,” he recalls.
“I remember joking with everyone who would listen that I’d only regret getting a regular size door every time I touched it for the next 20 years.”
Sarah jumps in: “He wanted a huge big front door, but we compromised. We still did get a larger one and I’m so glad we did.”
At the end of the day, that door is just a small part of the bigger picture.
“The kids have plenty of space to grow in a beautiful house in a well-known and friendly neighborhood, this means everything to me,” Myles says.
“I loved the way the house had so much meaning to Sarah and her family. Even today, when the family come round, they have great stories of past exploits around the house which they share with us and the kids. That kind of history means a lot.”
“I love the memories I have growing up as a child living in this house and now being able to see my children grow up here – it’s very different but also familiar,” Sarah adds.
“I love that we could breathe new life into the house with the next generation.”
Who will then kick you out?
She laughs. “I hope we can be here for the next 30 years like my father was.”
SARAH AND MYLES' PLACE
Built: 1970s
Land: 1000 m²
Bed: 4
Bath: 3
Builder: Imperium Constructions
Interior Design: Georgie Shepherd Interior Design
Landscaping/garden: Benjamin Luke Property Services
WHAT THEIR PLACE TAUGHT THEM
Do your research - lots of it.
I signed up to online courses and listened to podcasts for renovations and styling which were very helpful. Search and save lots of Pinterest images of rooms and homes you like to get your vision clear and understand what you like, and be able to share with your team. I spent a lot of time visiting suppliers, show homes and open homes. I talked to friends who were in the industry and friends and family who had done major renovations recently to learn from them and their mistakes and wins.
Live in the home first.
If you can, do so before making final decisions and test samples in the spaces they will be used. We were lucky to have a few years to consider this renovation and I also knew this home inside and out.
Find the right people.
Trust and use the professionals and find people that understand what you want and share your vision. It was also important that we trusted these professionals to be respectful of our budget, as it’s so easy to get carried away.
But trust your gut.
Go with your instinct with selecting your team and selecting your finishes.
Scroll through to see what their place looked like before
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