Designing for Central Coast Character

The Central Coast has unique housing stock — weatherboard cottages, brick mid-century homes, and 70s/80s/90s brick homes. I'm passionate about preserving that character while making these homes work for modern families.

Why Preserve?

Most people think they need to knock down and rebuild. But good bones are rare. If your home has beautiful proportions, solid construction, or architectural character, it's usually worth keeping and reimagining.

Renovating well is also more sustainable than demolishing. You're not sending materials to landfill or starting from scratch with embodied carbon.

What I Look For

In cottages:

• Original weatherboard or timber detailing

• High ceilings and natural ventilation

• Generous eaves and verandahs

• Room proportions and window placement

In mid-century homes:

• Clean lines and horizontal emphasis

• Indoor-outdoor connection

• Clever use of materials (brick, timber, glass)

• Original built-in joinery

In 70s/80s/90s homes:

• Solid brick construction

• Good bones that just need a refresh

• Potential for better connection to the backyard

• Layouts that can be opened up to create flow

How I Approach Renovations

Keep what works. If the bones are good, build around them.

Rearrange what doesn't. Most layout problems can be solved without adding square metres.

Add thoughtfully. New additions should complement, not compete with, the original architecture.

Update everything else. Kitchens, bathrooms, services, insulation — all can be modernised while preserving character.

Open to the outdoors. Many 70s/80s/90s homes have disconnected backyards — adding bifold or sliding doors, decks, and better sightlines transforms how you live.

Challenging Sites? I Handle Those Too

Many Central Coast properties come with overlays — flood zones, bushfire areas, sloping blocks. I have experience navigating these requirements and can design for compliance without compromising aesthetics.

• Flood-prone sites: Elevated living spaces, flood-resilient materials, smart drainage

• Bushfire zones: BAL-compliant materials and detailing that don't look institutional

• Sloping blocks: Split-level design that works with topography

Want to talk about your character home? Let's discuss what's worth keeping and what needs to change..