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This renovated Queenslander is giving us all the feels

By Amy Collins-Walker •

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You know you’re looking at something special when a property has its own name. ‘Pen Y Llechwedd’ is a stately 104-year-old Queenslander, located in Ipswich, that was renovated recently resulting in a much more light-filled space that, while modern, remains sensitive to the building’s provenance. It’s a real beauty.

Queenslander front elevation
‘Pen Y Llechwedd’ is one of Ipswich’s most iconic Queenslanders

Originally commissioned by the then mayor Fredrick Goleby, the original home is the work of renowned architect George Brockwell Gill who designed an extensive array of heritage properties in the Ipswich area. “Initially the home consisted of five bedrooms with the kitchen on the verandah, however a renovation in the 1930’s saw the kitchen built in to create a breakfast room, with the gorgeous coloured glass still in place today,” says owner Nicole Cox, who completed the renovation with her husband Adam, a builder.

Before: Lounge & dining
BEFORE: Dining and lounge room
After: Lounge room
AFTER: Lounge room

Aside from the 1930’s modifications (which included the addition of several window seats and pressed metal), the home was renovated again in the 1980’s which saw the addition of a deck and additional bedrooms.

BEFORE: Master bedroom
BEFORE: Master bedroom
After: Master bedroom
AFTER: Master bedroom

When Nicole and Adam bought the property in 2014, they commenced bringing the old home back to life, reconfiguring the spaces, and adding more bedrooms for their large combined family that includes five children who are all teenagers or young adults.

Dining room after
AFTER: Dining room

“The brief was simply to create a comfortable family home to fit our large family, without impacting any of the home’s original design features and with a view to enhance as many as possible. To do this we needed to add two bedrooms, a bathroom and completely renovate the original part of the home,” says Nicole of the property that now boasts five bedrooms, a library, formal lounge, formal dining, sitting room and three bathrooms all set on a landscaped 1200 square metre block that even has its own stream!

AFTER: Kitchen
AFTER: Kitchen

With high ceilings, timber floors, VJ walls and expansive verandahs there’s a reason the Queenslander is so loved. “Queenslanders have such a romance to them, with their iconic style of wide hallways, decorative fretwork and large verandahs, perfectly built to capture the summer breeze. Queenslanders are easy homes for families to live in as they’re strong and hardy, have stood the test of time, and will survive your family well,” says Nicole.

AFTER: Lounge room
AFTER: Lounge room

“As the home itself is a little bit of a mixed bag when it comes to design periods, we were careful to maximise its original character while bringing our own classical touch. Traditional Queenslanders can be quite dark with raw timbers and heavy drapes so we intentionally brought in elements to ensure a lit though warm feeling home, maximising the natural light wherever possible.”

AFTER: Lounge room

As for Nicole’s favourite part of the transformation, she is rather taken with her new ensuite. “A blend of classic style, it references the time in which the home was built but with all the modern conveniences. This room is a dream to use daily,” says Nicole.

Before: Ensuite
BEFORE: Ensuite
After: Ensuite
AFTER: Ensuite
After: Ensuite
AFTER: Ensuite

“I also love the library as it’s a stunning example of a modern working office integrated with a formal library space. This room was to echo the smoking rooms or parlours of the time, but still needed to be practical and functional,” says Nicole.

Before: Library
BEFORE: Library
After: Library
AFTER: Library and combined study

An experienced renovator, Nicole works alongside her husband in their family business. “We spent seven years working in residential construction, mostly focusing on Queenslander renovations, steadily growing before downsizing last year back to a simplified business model that works for our family,” says Nicole who started a blog called The Builder’s Wife to document the renovation.

After: Entry
AFTER: Entry

“My blog came about from an interest in our home and I have enjoyed sharing our renovation with our readers, however it grew into the perfect platform to engage with other women within the construction industry. Working in a traditionally male field comes with its own set of challenges. My blog has given me the opportunity to support and educate women in all aspects of the construction industry and those looking to build or renovate their own homes,” says Nicole.

AFTER: Verandah
AFTER: Verandah

Sadly, Nicole and Adam are selling the home because they’ve outgrown it. “The home is regrettably being sold to take our extended family back to acreage living. With a house full of busy teenagers, acreage gives space for the lifestyle our children enjoy.”

AFTER: Entry

AFTER: Entry

Photographer: Hannah Puechmarin | Stylist: Rachael Honner

Nicole’s blog | A bright Queenslander

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April 4, 2018

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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarLaura Fox says

    April 5, 2018 at 6:44 am

    That master bedroom is just divine! So dreamy!

  2. AvatarDebra says

    April 8, 2018 at 8:08 pm

    I would dream relax and inspire that ensuite(hide and seek)I will just hide. It’s adoring.
    Stop it like I think I am dribbling.

  3. AvatarEoghan McHugh says

    April 16, 2018 at 3:03 am

    Fantastic piece on the restoration of a beautiful property. The before and after photos are great to compare – particularly around the modernisation of the ensuite and kitchen. Thanks so much for sharing

  4. Avatarlisa carson says

    May 25, 2018 at 12:33 pm

    My dream home. Love it!

  5. AvatarNorma Farrant says

    January 19, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    What greys are featured and some other interior colours? I love them. I am trying to choose colours for an old home we have purchased, situated on 1200 acres.

  6. AvatarMaria José Ramos Peccenini says

    February 7, 2021 at 9:27 pm

    The colours grey and white and the green from the plants, brought light and modern to this house without losing its old feature. Congratulations! I loved it!

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      February 8, 2021 at 7:30 am

      Glad you enjoyed it!

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