A tropical holiday house renovation

The couple engaged the services of a designer, Catherine Daff of Fifth Avenue Designs, rather than an architect, to redesign their home. While the project will be ongoing, they have chosen to start with the outdoor area.

In the heart of Queensland's wetlands, this home gets more than its fair share of rain. But the original drainage system was less than adequately equipped to handle the frequent downpours.

"The old house had a big front area. When it rained, all the runoff from the house pipes would build up at the front of the house because it had nowhere to run," explains Catherine. "There was always a big quagmire of water on the tiled area at the front of the house."

The drainage system was refashioned to catch a greater quantity of water and to channel all rain into a dry creek bed, to be redistributed into the garden. A swimming pool replaced the existing concrete front yard and was designed to direct rainwater into the garden. The travertine surrounds of the pool slope down on either side so the water naturally rolls into the garden.

Solar panels have been installed on the roof to heat the pool water. As the project extends to the inside of the home, more panels will be installed to create power for the entire home.

Aesthetics have not been compromised by functionality. The creek bed sits beneath the repositioned driveway, concealed by white pebbles and larger stones. Any trees cut down to create this space did not go to waste either. A discarded paperbark has been transformed into a round table with four matching chairs, creating a little oasis by the creek. Mulch from other removed trees has been recycled for the garden.

Since Michael and Karenne live elsewhere during the week, it was important for the garden to be low maintenance. Lining the front of the pool area is a selection of eco-friendly plants. Native to the area, they are sustained by the watering system and don't require a great deal of care.

Catherine's approach to the project was all-encompassing. She lived at the property during the renovation process and oversaw all aspects of the job. From commissioning an artist to create a unique Weyba (Aboriginal name for stingray) sculpture, to directing tradespeople in the construction of the pool, no detail was overlooked.

A special touch to the pool area is the sparkling gold feature wall. Diverse in her talents, Catherine created this look by observing the sunset hues and capturing them in paint. 

"The gold wall captures the afternoon sun and gives a warm, rich glow," says Michael. "It helps make the house look and feel like a palace."

Catherine Daff

Fifth Avenue Designs

How have you improved on the old drainage system?

The gutters used to overflow with the tropical rain and run onto the driveway and out to the street. There were too many pipes, so I chopped them all off back at the house and built two to run down each side of the pool. Any runoff feeds into the garden through little outlets.

How does the pool help conserve water?

It looks level, but underneath it's actually built with a slope to either side of the garden. The drainage comes out at the end of the pool, where I created a stone dry creek bed that flows into the front garden. It conserves the water from the rain and runoff for the landscaping.

Why did you use pebbles to conceal the creek?

We were actually going to build a timber bridge over the creek, but it took away from the natural feel. Now they use the stone area as their carpark, but underneath there's actually a big channel. 

You had to remove trees to open up space. How did you reuse the wood?

There were 15 trees cut down and I made some furniture out of one of them. We gave the mulch from the trees that we chopped down  to charities to use when they're doing up their gardens. The plants we put in are natural to the region; they thrive in those conditions.

Will the eco-friendly developments continue throughout the property?

Yes, the landscaping and pool was stage one of the project. The main residence will be started in a few months and we'll do all the eco-friendly stuff inside the house. Traditionally people do the house first, but we're bringing the outside in. 

Michael

What were you hoping to achieve with the renovation?

We wanted to provide our guests with a venue for bathing in safety, away from the notorious stingrays after which our creek is named. Our goal was to build a pool area and entrance to our home in keeping with its rich local estuarine environment. 

How did you choose your designer?

Cath had been living in our house before we agreed to embark on the project, so had a unique insight into what it could become. We had discussed our aspirations with her during most of this preceding period and were impressed by her flair for design and attention to even the smallest details.

In what ways are the improvements better for the environment?

The drainage for the house was completely reworked, with rainwater now passing out through agricultural pipe, maximising moisture retention in the ground. The house is now much more open for breezes in summer and for winter sun to warm the interior, saving on power.

What do you like most about the project?

Two things: the travertine pool surround, which is so cool and soft under foot during summer, and the metal artwork of schooling fish and a Weyba which hangs on the wall and gable.

Did anything about Catherine's work take you by surprise?

We were impressed by Cath's hands-on approach to the job. She was willing to get her hands dirty, especially after our original landscaper left midway through the project. I was also impressed that these hands-on skills extended to artistic painting.