Renovation mavens Bonnie Hindmarsh, Erin Cayless and Lana Taylor, the trio that make up Three Birds Renovations, have a knack for transforming tired suburban dwellings into desirable family homes using a little expert know-how.
With Australians wanting to make the most of a warm and sunny climate, a versatile outdoor space is a major drawcard for both buyers and homeowners looking to renovate – take a peek at how Three Birds Renovations create an enviable alfresco area perfect for summer entertaining in their latest project.
Create a smooth indoor-outdoor transition
“A seamless link between indoor and outdoor living spaces are a must have in today’s modern Australian home, so an alfresco deck is always an important space to get right in all the Three Birds’ projects,” says Taylor, “A place where family can congregate, relax and entertain.”
“This HardieDeck is particularly special because you can come out onto it from the house at any level – it was important to us that it be as accessible as possible,” says Taylor of their decking choice, which can be built as close as 50mm from the ground.
“A seamless link between indoor and outdoor living spaces are a must have in today’s modern Australian home." HardieDeck™ can be sealed with a tint to match the exterior of your home, creating a smooth indoor-outdoor transition.
Think longevity and low maintenance
The team’s two recent home renovations included statement HardieDecks as the Three Birds needed the most durable and long lasting option for their build. They love the fact a HardieDeck is termite and moisture resistant, which won’t rot or require regular maintenance.
“At our earlier renovations we installed a timber deck out the back,” says Cayless, “But at our more recent renos we decided to use HardieDeck and we’re really happy with how they’ve turned out.” Cayless adds that the benefits are numerous when likening the decking to more traditional choices. “It’s fire resistant, water resistant, it won’t warp, and it’s termite resistant, which are great qualities to have when you’re comparing it to timber,” she says.
Essential entertaining, HardieDeck is durable and moisture-resistant which means it's perfect for high foot traffic and summer BBQs.
Mix new and old
Take note of a home’s history when designing an extension – a deck can be the ideal way to both complement and refresh the overall aesthetic. “The cottage has a real charm of its own – lovely old stained glass, leadlight windows, high ceilings, picture rails, a beautiful front porch,” says Taylor of a recent project at a Sydney home. “The bones and the shape were already there so we extended and updated the layout, materials and colours.”
A small extension at the rear to expand the living space was clad in Scyon™ Walls Stria™ boards and painted dark charcoal. “The contrast of the modern and old, traditional features is just stunning,” she adds. The grey deck and white balustrade are a timeless and stylish choice that will suit homes both old and new.
A limited colour palette allowed Three Birds to give this classic Australian cottage a modern makeover.
Don’t compromise on style
Three Birds were impressed by the look of fibre cement decking. “We’ve used a lot of vertical and horizontal lines in the design and the HardieDeck style feeds into that beautifully,” says Taylor. “It definitely stands out as a design feature at the back of the house. You don’t usually expect that from a deck… it gives a stunning result,” she says.
Installed with a joining system that conceals the screws and can be laid with fewer joists than a traditional timber deck, the result is a smoother finish that uses less materials and labour. Impressed with the wide range of design options, Taylor says, “HardieDeck offers a greater facility to colour match than traditional timber and can be sealed in any shade.”
“We’ve used a lot of vertical and horizontal lines in the design and the HardieDeck style feeds into that beautifully.”
