In October last year, we posted a project progress blog of a gorgeous pair of mid-century modern homes in Wembley Downs. At that stage, we were about halfway through the build. Now, we’re very close to the finish line: the perfect time to drop back in and give you all some insight into how much has been done since then. To see some renders and give yourself a refresh of the previous blog, you can find it here.
WHAT’S BEEN DONE SINCE LAST TIME
In our last update, we were at the plastering stage of the build, when the house was just starting to take shape. Since then, it’s been all about the details that give it its own unique form. The Gyprock (plaster) was sanded, sealed and painted. Then we moved on to polishing the concrete floors and tiling the wet areas. With that all done, we were able to install all the cabinetry and second fix carpentry—things like skirting boards, doorframes and doors—before finishing off the last bits of painting. We also did some more work outside, installing the solar PV system and solar pergola, forming and pouring some of the external concrete, prepping for landscaping and, just recently, completing the deck.
That all brings us to where we are now, in the fit-off and commissioning stage. This involves installing and connecting the visible plumbing and electrical fixtures—like light switches, taps and appliances—and, most importantly, testing them all for quality and safety.
The very recently completed deck.
SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE DETAILS SO FAR
This far through the build, it’s especially nice to be able to see many of the design details start to take shape.
The Vulcan timber cladding from Abodo is particularly impressive. Designed to ‘silver off’ and create a weathered aesthetic, we’ve already started to see its transformation.
We also love the clean lines of the cladding that wraps under the soffit to create a negative window detail. Add to this a solar pergola and some strip lighting, and you get yourself a beautifully refined alfresco.
The hit-and-miss brickwork, carried through the front and back of the home, has also proved to be a great way to bring some subtle visual interest. This is a technique that involves laying the bricks in a haphazard pattern to create a checkered wall that plays beautifully with sunlight. It can act as a privacy screen, ventilation or, in this case, a creative way to zone off the solar pergola without completely closing it in.
WHAT’S STILL TO COME
With a lot of progress over the past seven months, we’re now not far away from handover. That being said, there’s still a fair bit to do. The first, and most transformative, will be the landscaping. This has already been prepped with reticulation but is still waiting on the plants and the rest of the external concrete surfaces, like driveways and crossovers.
Once that’s all done, we’ll bring in the cleaners to freshen up the space and make sure no traces of the construction stage are left behind. This will allow us to install the fly screens (which always wait until after the windows have been cleaned for the last time). Then it’ll be all the small finishing details, including any necessary touch-ups, the hanging of art, and the installation of TVs.
Very close to the finish line, we’ll then bring the clients in for a room-by-room walk through to flag any issues. Once each of these are addressed, it’ll be time for the day they’ve undoubtedly been waiting for: handover day.
The formwork in place, ready for pouring the concrete driveway and crossover.
The intended finished facade.
Keen to get a project of your own under way?Get in touch to see if we’d be the right fit!