Inspiration
Design
Melbourne couple Jen and Brad Higgins know how to renovate – and have an eye for style. As soon as the couple spotted a rundown post-war timber cottage in Heidelberg, they could see its potential.
Brad works in the building industry; Jen works in marketing and together they make a great renovation team. They immediately saw the home’s potential, which was in a great location on a decent-sized block of land.
The house was built in the 1950s, and although it was structurally sound, it was ugly and had an outdated floorplan, says Jen. The couple has three-year-old twin girls and were keen to turn the house into their forever family home. As soon as possible after settlement, they set to work.
“It had an old kitchen and brick tiles on the floor,” Jen says. “It was horrific. We ripped up the floors in the lounge and dining; we ripped out the laundry; we opened the space up; we built a butler’s pantry; we changed the zoning of the bathrooms and created an ensuite for the master.
“We moved the location of the hallway. We installed built-in wardrobes; we recarpeted. We repainted; we changed windows, doors, we did everything!”
After six months of intense work, the inside was looking pretty good, she says. “And the exterior had freshly painted charcoal-coloured weatherboards. That’s when we decided it was time to tackle the roof.”
“The roof hadn’t been updated since the house was built,” Jen explains. “The cement tiles were clearly decaying, and the roof’s colour and quality had worn, and it did not look good. There was lots of dirt and mould – it was horrible.”
“We had done a lot of work internally and externally and it was really bringing down the look of our house. We had painted the house; we’d redone the gardens; we’d renovated inside, and the roof was kind of just this ugly thing that stuck out.
“We decided to invest in a good-looking black tiled roof.”
Jen and Brad chose Monier’s Nouveau terracotta tiles in Titan, which are incredibly long-lasting. As they’re made from terracotta, their colour will never fade, ensuring that their good looks will remain. They’re also backed with a 50-year warranty.
They are also made locally in Melbourne, which is a nice touch. Terracotta tiles are made from natural materials and are known for their thermal efficiency.
“We had painted the house a lead grey colour with white window trims and so the black roof was going to work really well,” she adds. “We did consider steel as a roofing option, but we thought it just wouldn’t work with the look of the house and we didn’t want to see the wearing and colour fading like we did with the old roof.”
The results speak for themselves; a traditional cottage brought back to life with clever renovations, contemporary colours and quality products that last.
Tips on how to modernise a traditional cottage
1. Implement a modern colour palette. Jen and Brad went with a striking monotone colour scheme with charcoal coloured paint on their weatherboard home, offset with crisp white trims.
2. Make a statement with a new front door. “It’s a gorgeous front door,” Jen says. “It’s white with black handles and in a period style; beautiful.”
3. Select classic roof tiles that suite the period of the home. The Noveau terracotta tiles chosen by the Higgins family have a traditional profile that complements the period of the house and showcase the intense colour that Jen wanted.
4. Add plantation shutters. These classically styled window coverings work well with period homes and add a contemporary look.
5. Use plenty of greenery for contrast. Evergreen planting against a dark exterior creates a striking contrast that really pops.