Parana

Against the Grain was engaged to renovate and extend this weatherboard cottage in the Blue Mountains village of Leura.

The architectural design maintains the period style of the existing structure, introducing a two-storey addition with a light-filled link between old and new, clad in charred Australian hardwood.

The project involved significant improvements to the neglected cottage including structural repairs, complete exterior recladding, new roof, insulation, and electrical rewiring.

The new addition comprises a master bedroom with balcony, bathroom with ofuro (traditional Japanese bath), sauna, and study nook upstairs. Garage, mudroom, laundry, and storage are at ground level.

An original curved internal wall was preserved, with this curve element repeated in custom cabinetry, kitchen island, hardwood deck in Grey Ironbark, and paved outdoor terrace.

Against the Grain's Windows & Doors team manufactured all new double-glazed window units and solid timber internal doors in New Guinea Rosewood supplied primed for painted finish.

Tasmanian oak features throughout in the hardwood flooring, internal staircase, and custom joinery from Against the Grain’s team including benchtops, window seat, vertical batten screen, and recessed full-height bookshelves. Outdoors, our custom timber fence, entry gates and arbour reconnect the property to the local streetscape.  

The renovation was completed to passive design and sustainability standards: high-performance double-glazed timber windows and solid timber doors, new insulation throughout including subfloor in the old cottage, underfloor heating in the bathroom, heat pump, solar panels, battery, and EV charger.

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Architecture: 2000ft Design

Photography: Liam Foster