A Modern Farmhouse inspired backyard renovation with Making HOME

When it comes to memorable finishing touches for backyard swimming pools, a well-planned pool house is hard to top. Unbeatable for relaxation, shade and entertainment next to a pool, a modern pool house adds functionality to outdoor living areas and brings loads of design flair to the space.

Someone very familiar with this is Nikki from Making HOME. Along with her design team and builders, she transformed one family’s dated Sydney backyard into a modern-day oasis, complete with a classic pool house ready to work its socks off.

“A pool house was always a must-have for this space. We wanted to create a mature outdoor zone for a family with teenage kids who love the outdoors. We only had a small area to work with, but with smart design, we created a pool house that looks as good as it performs,” says Nikki, Director of Making HOME.

Modern Farmhouse vision for the pool house

For the alfresco, pool and spa area of the renovation, Nikki envisioned a compact pool house that blended classic charm with a fresh modern look, and it needed to tie in seamlessly with the Modern Farmhouse aesthetic.

“The goal was timeless over trendy and practical over polished. We wanted something really functional and inviting that would welcome with open arms,” says Nikki.

Drawing inspiration from traditional farmhouses and modern coastal builds, Nikki knew that deep, comfy seating was essential. She also prioritised overhead shelter and vision on both sides of the structure to capture views of the house and hills.

And of course, a glorious gabled roof was non-negotiable. Because nothing says ‘Farmhouse’ quite like the pitched beauty of gables.

How key materials brought the vision to life

Cladding was a key ingredient in both the integrity of this contemporary yet classic pool house and its overall appearance. Axon™ Cladding by James Hardie helped the team achieve the exact look and feel they were after, delivering a timber-like finish with a contemporary twist.

“Axon™ Cladding was the hero product in the making of this pool house and wider alfresco area. It brings so much visual interest and linear texture to the spot without the fuss and maintenance of timber,” says Nikki.

Aesthetics aside, Axon™ Cladding ticked important functional criteria for the team, most importantly resistance to fire and damage from water and termites. Plus, it installed quickly and easily, a blessing for the renovation team who were working within tight industry constraints and rising costs.

“We can’t believe how fast the cladding went up - blink and you’ll miss it! Better yet, all of the cladding arrived pre-primed and ready to paint. This saved our painters time, so saved us money.”

Fully functional for modern living

This pool house was designed with a keen focus on functionality; it had to look great and work hard throughout the long Sydney summer. The layout was tight but it optimises the space well, with careful consideration given to the integration of indoor and outdoor living areas.

“Connectivity is so important when it comes to indoor and outdoor spaces. We wanted this pool house to have cohesion with the rest of the house - and the exterior cladding was the secret ingredient,” according to Nikki.

Nikki tied the Axon™ Cladding on the pool house back to the undercover alfresco space, which features moments of the same finish combined with Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding on the main house.

“The linear beauty of Axon™ Cladding is incredibly versatile. It’s clean and crisp and blends beautifully with other products in the Hardie™ Architectural Collection while delivering its own type of magic. Axon™ Cladding ties this zone to the main house and makes the pool house absolutely shine.”