Hendra Renovation Mixes Old and New

A work colleague of mine lives in the inner Brisbane suburb of Hendra. Her street is lined with Jacarandas and her house will one day be breathtaking. See a few years ago, she moved her little cottage to the back of the block and added a gorgeous old Queenslander to the front. The facade view from the street is so lovely and I cannot wait to share pictures when she has completed the renovation. And it was a discussion with her about her house this week that lead me on the path to realestalking Hendra.  Normally my preference is a Queenslander that looks and feels like a Queenslander.  I prefer this look and feel instead of a modern take on an old classic.  Not all the time though, as this house proves.  It really is a case of old and new coming together in a way that makes sense and doesn’t feel as disjoined as other attempts have been.

From the front, she is a true sight to behold. The exterior, for a change, has been painted beige / cream with white trims. She looks magnificent on the block and really gives off the sense of grandeur that these old homes can provoke.

Entry is via a single staircase to the right of the house.

There are three verandahs / decks.  This is the first.  Dreamy, right?  I know I keep saying it, but is there anything better than beige and white trim?  Maybe grey and white trim?  This outdoor area is so sweet.  It leads to the living area of the house and is sensational.

Not connected to any of the other decks / verandahs is this little verandah off the main bedroom / ensuite.  A little parents retreat, perfect for evenings spent sitting outside after the kids have gone to sleep.

It’s on the inside that this house starts to lose the Queenslander feel.  The VJ walls have disappeared and the ceilings aren’t sky high.  But as I said in the beginning of this post, there’s something about this blend of old and new that I really like.  The wood stove in the middle of the room adds cosiness and helps to break up the otherwise vast space.

From the open plan kitchen / living room, you can walk out onto one of the three verandahs.  The furniture in this room is fitting and I really want to get myself that couch.

The kitchen is very modern but this is actually where I really miss the look and feel of a Queenslander.  I love VJ walls in the kitchen!

This angle looks out over the pool.

 

I put the next photo in purely for the chair.  I must have it!

This is the view that I adore.  It is very modern and very un-Queenslander like but I adore it.  The spa and pool are prefect for both winter and summer living.

Another view of the gorgeous pool.

Of course, there is a wine cellar – enough for 1000 bottles!

And a movie room.

And a gym.

Here’s the floor plan.  It really is a beautiful home.

Details

This Queenslander is in Hendra and is not for sale. It was sold for a whopping $3,500,000 in 2017 by Lisa Pearse-Sargeant and Janelle McKenna of Ray White Ascot. The real estate link is here.