Houzz Tour: A Crumbling Building in Sydney Gets a Stunning Makeover
This rundown 1970s house in Sydney became an industrial-meets-modern home at the hands of a husband-and-wife design team
It’s not every day that a design-build team gets to be their own client. But when Nathan and Bettina Waller, who manage the Sydney-based residential renovations company Capital Building, found a half-demolished structure in the suburbs, they decided to renovate it for themselves.
Drawing on 20 years of experience, they built a fresh new home with a contemporary edge.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Nathan and Bettina Waller and their two sons, Jesse and Remy
Location Sydney, Australia
Size 4 bedrooms, 3-4 bathrooms
Completed 2012
Drawing on 20 years of experience, they built a fresh new home with a contemporary edge.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Nathan and Bettina Waller and their two sons, Jesse and Remy
Location Sydney, Australia
Size 4 bedrooms, 3-4 bathrooms
Completed 2012
Inside the home, the team used recycled timber and a neutral palette to help achieve a soothing feel. ‘You feel like time can stand still in the house, and the manic pace of life outside doesn’t come in,’ says Bettina.
The front door opens to an airy reclaimed wood staircase, which leads either up to the bedrooms or down into the living area. The Wallers designed the custom-made front door using a standard frame, and applying a jigsaw arrangement of timber in varying thickness on the outer side.
The front door opens to an airy reclaimed wood staircase, which leads either up to the bedrooms or down into the living area. The Wallers designed the custom-made front door using a standard frame, and applying a jigsaw arrangement of timber in varying thickness on the outer side.
The industrial-style kitchen combines a wooden island with a wooden breakfast made from a utility pole. The worktop is dark composite stone. Parisian-style metallic pendant lights complete the look.
Worktop: Essastone in French Black
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Worktop: Essastone in French Black
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The dining room continues the kitchen’s sleek look. A local carpenter built the table using parts of an old fence. Numerous simple pendant lights help frame the scene. The room opens to a decking area with a basketball net.
White chairs: OzDesign; upholstered chairs: Curio Design
White chairs: OzDesign; upholstered chairs: Curio Design
The Wallers had two patterned rugs sewn together because one was too small for the living room. The minimalist fireplace burns ethanol. ‘They don’t produce an enormous amount of heat but do create a lovely gentle warmth,’ says Nathan. ‘Plus, there’s no smoke, so no mess.’
Sofa: Sofa Studio; chairs: custom upholstered with Par Avion fabric from Warwick Fabrics; rug: Italtex
Sofa: Sofa Studio; chairs: custom upholstered with Par Avion fabric from Warwick Fabrics; rug: Italtex
Simplicity influenced the en-suite guest bathroom design. A recycled wooden sink unit complements wood flooring and organic textures. ‘This small bathroom is one of my favorites because we have managed to create a space that is functional but doesn’t feel like a typical guest bathroom,’ says Bettina. ‘It feels like another designed space that carries our style.’
The soothing main bedroom features a laminate wood floor that extends to create a backdrop and headboard. A small partition wall conceals a small hallway that leads to a walk-in wardrobe and main bathroom. ‘We call this room ‘the cloud’ because you feel like you are up among the clouds,’ says Bettina. A custom-made floating bed continues this effect.
Industrial features, like heavy concrete light fixtures, mix with softer ones, like a cream-colored shag pile rug. To the side, a faux fireplace made from MDF wood and painted white holds a bundle of driftwood bought online.
The ceiling drops to conceal the air conditioning unit, positioned above to help mirror the placement of the bed.
Lights: Curio Design
See 10 cool ways to use wood cladding
Industrial features, like heavy concrete light fixtures, mix with softer ones, like a cream-colored shag pile rug. To the side, a faux fireplace made from MDF wood and painted white holds a bundle of driftwood bought online.
The ceiling drops to conceal the air conditioning unit, positioned above to help mirror the placement of the bed.
Lights: Curio Design
See 10 cool ways to use wood cladding
This bathroom incorporates a recycled wood sink unit and wood-effect wall tiles, giving the effect of bringing the mountains to the suburbs of Sydney.
‘Taking what would normally be a cold, slick space, we really wanted to keep that earthy textured feel but not make it too heavy,’ Bettina says.
The counter has a water-based stain and water-based clear finish.
‘Taking what would normally be a cold, slick space, we really wanted to keep that earthy textured feel but not make it too heavy,’ Bettina says.
The counter has a water-based stain and water-based clear finish.
The home’s original pool filled the entire garden space. The Wallers demolished half the pool and created a new one with a more modern shape. This freed up space where the children could run around on grass. Glass partitions keep the children safe. Nearby, there’s a large built-in barbecue and outdoor seating area.
‘Now we have created spaces that connect with internal rooms to make each space feel larger,’ Bettina says. ‘All of the outdoor areas have a purpose; they all connect with each other and every family member of any age and stage is catered for. One of the most common comments we hear when people come in is, ‘It feels like a resort.’
‘Now we have created spaces that connect with internal rooms to make each space feel larger,’ Bettina says. ‘All of the outdoor areas have a purpose; they all connect with each other and every family member of any age and stage is catered for. One of the most common comments we hear when people come in is, ‘It feels like a resort.’
The finished home is a multi-story house that’s perfectly suited to the character of its suburban setting, maximising natural light with large windows with a crisp, contemporary aesthetic.
‘When we were thinking about the style, we wanted to find the perfect balance of modern, neutral, textured and industrial,’ Bettina says. ‘This combination gives enough to feel contemporary; it’s neutral enough to feel serene and doesn’t compete for attention; the texture grounds the feel back to nature; and the industrial element makes it feel like you can live in it and not be afraid to spoil it.’