Three Birds Renovations Reno School students renovate Modern Coastal dream homes

It’s clear from the latest season of The Block the Modern Coastal trend isn’t going anywhere. As teams race to renovate homes to withstand the windy, coastal conditions of Victoria’s Phillip Island, they are eagerly embracing the contemporary and sleek spin on the traditional beach house.

But The Block contestants are not the only fans of this style. Three Birds Renovations are big fans too, and now we’re seeing graduates of their Reno School embrace it in stand-out renovations that highlight its longevity, liveability and luxurious vibe.

The Modern Coastal style is not only aesthetically appealing, but it's adaptable. The style can be used to update a variety of building types, including a brick veneer house – cladding over brick is a high-impact way to update an exterior. Let’s take a look at three homes that illustrate the versatility and durability of Modern Coastal style.

Cladding over brick in a Modern Coastal update in Balgowlah

Deb McNee’s little brick bungalow in the Sydney suburb of Balgowlah was feeling and looking a tad tired. A graduate of Three Birds Renovations Reno School, Deb found the course invaluable in helping her narrow her vision for her Modern Coastal dream home.

Luckily, she was able to imagine the design transformation possible by cladding over brick. “My husband and I have always loved the look of traditional weatherboard homes and knew that a weatherboard exterior was a must when it came to renovating our family home,” says Deb.

“We [Deb and her family] live in a coastal location and our original 1920s brown brick bungalow didn’t fit with our Modern Coastal meets Hamptons vision. We knew this exterior had to go. Linea™ Weatherboard was perfect for achieving the modern style we wanted.”

There were some technical considerations too. The design process took quite a long time as the original Californian bungalow had curves at the front, which proved challenging to design with. Working with a builder who really understood the couple’s vision was key: “We interviewed about 20 builders before we finally found one who was on board,” says Deb.

Technical considerations of cladding over brick

Deb worked together on-site with the team of builders. It was important to consider how the Hardie™ external cladding would butt into the window frames, and that the balconies matched the cladding to ensure it all came together.

“At the front steps, it needed to create a seamless line. Our home is built on sandstone and wasn’t completely level, so they had to reframe parts of the house to ensure the cladding went onto straight lines perfectly,” adds Deb.

The result is a Modern Coastal dream that has delivered the lifestyle the couple hoped for. “We absolutely love the house and still drive up and think, ‘Wow’. The new facade has transformed our home, creating a striking impact.”

Renovating a Modern Coastal home to withstand coastal conditions

With a home located on NSW’s south coast in blustery Port Hacking, Fiona Bell is another student of Three Birds Renovations Reno School who loved her experience and is thrilled with her finished Modern Coastal home. Fiona explored a range of house cladding options to bring the look to life and landed on Linea™ Weatherboard.

This renovated home is practically a new build, with only the original garage still standing. “Our previous facade was very dated, and we disliked the old cream render look. It was in dire need of a refresh. We needed a bigger home for our growing family,” says Fiona.

“We aimed for a Modern Coastal chic style, and Hardie™ fibre cement products helped us achieve just that.”

The home also needed to work hard in terms of materials and products required to withstand tough coastal conditions. “Linea™ Weatherboard cladding is timeless, fresh, and classic, ensuring our home remains stylish for years to come. It’s also incredibly low maintenance and durable, which is a huge plus,” says Fiona.

Its strong shadow lines nod to a traditional beach house with a modern twist, referencing heritage styling but delivering it in a sleek, and low-maintenance way.

A Modern Coastal home built to endure

Linea™ Weatherboard isn’t just aesthetically suited to a coastal environment. Made from Hardie™ fibre cement, it is engineered to endure and will stand up to harsh Australian environments.

Hardie™ fibre cement is made from a mixture of cement, sand, water and cellulose fibre. This unique formulation helps to create beautiful and durable exterior cladding solutions. It’s fire resistant and resistant to damage from moisture and termites. It is pre-primed and ready to paint in any colour and is low maintenance, easy to clean and holds on to paint well.

“The transformation of our house into a light, coastal retreat has exceeded our expectations,” says Fiona. “We love our new facade and believe the choice of Linea™ Weatherboard to achieve it was absolutely essential in realising our vision. The new cladding has completely transformed our home.”

The look carries through to its stunning Modern Coastal interior design: it’s now a laidback and luxurious home delivering family friendly living in a beachside setting.

Builder: Beyond Build Constructions Architect: Shire Building Design Photographer: Adam Crews Imagery

A Modern Coastal knockdown-rebuild in Mona Vale

Bec Berrell in Mona Vale, NSW, is yet another Reno School graduate who loved the coastal feel of her home, but it was too small and run down to deliver the functionality and floorplan her family needed.

“Our previous facade was a very old beach-style cottage; it was tired and not in great condition,” explains Bec. “While we love weatherboards, the original weatherboards didn’t have the nice, smooth Modern Coastal look that we were after.”

The poor condition of the old house meant it was best to start from scratch and build a new home. “We always wanted to keep the beach-style coastal cottage with a weatherboard look and knew Linea™ Weatherboard was the perfect product to achieve that look.”

Bec gathered lots of inspiration from other houses in the area, Pinterest, lots of scrolling online and social media, which firmed up her Modern Coastal approach.

“Working with our architect and builder, we seamlessly communicated our vision and were thrilled with their recommendation to use James Hardie brand products and solutions. The result has been nothing short of spectacular. Even four years on, we receive countless compliments on how fresh and new our house looks.”

It’s also provided cost savings in the long run, as maintenance costs are low. Keeping your freshly applied Hardie™ exterior cladding looking its best means an annual clean with some non-abrasive cleaning products, which is a lot simpler than some other products. “This is our forever home, and knowing we have used durable and quality products gives us peace of mind,” adds Bec.