Dream Home: The art of Balancing old and new

Embedded content: https://youtu.be/xqhN9lboHEE The ‘mullet house’ trend is transforming the way we think about renovations. Rather than knocking down and rebuilding old homes, the ‘mullet’ trend encourages us to create a ‘dialogue’ between old and new, retaining the classic look of the front façade but contrasting it with a modern extension at the back.

We chatted Rob Gray about his new Brisbane home which he describes as “a family home modern that’s a modern take on seventies flair.” Discover how Rob used mixed materials to make this home a stand-out.

EXTERIOR FOCUS

“The existing house was substantial and the elevation at the front was a classic looking Queenslander, so we decided to keep it and add a modern mixed-materials extension to the back of the house.

The facade of the home was a key consideration during the renovation. I think the exterior of a house is your first impression, and that’s where the identity of a house is formed.”

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIALS

“The exterior look—Scyon™ Stria™ cladding mixed with the brick façade—is a family friendly, maintenance-free choice. It has a pleasant indoor-outdoor feel that I felt would be ideal match for the ultimate Queensland family lifestyle.

I love the mixed materials look- a mixture of materials is something that I feel adds several dimensions to the house. For example, we used brick for a natural feel, timber to soften the look and Scyon Stria to add a classier, smoother look and to make the home stand out from the rest of the homes in the suburb.”

STANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD

“We wanted to create a stand out façade would make this a landmark house in the Brisbane CBD area. There are so many houses out there that have a similar look, so I wanted something different because I think it is important that the house complements your personality.

We really wanted this house to stand out from the rest in the street. Scyon Stria is a modern cladding and it really helped us to achieve this.”

GET YOUR LOOK YOUR WAY

“If you’re building a mixed materials house, my top three tips are:

• Consider the climate you are building for and the direction the house is facing.
• Research the durability of the products you are using.
• Ensure the combinations of materials that you select complement each other and they don’t compete against each other.”

Build completed by Graya Constructions www.grayconstructions.com.au