One Person’s Garage…
All that remains of the original garage today is the concrete slab it sat on, which, with a nice polish and sealant, became the floor of the studio home. McFadden, a director at Tom Mark Henry, was driven to make the new space as sustainable as she could and opted for local and sustainable supplies and manufacturers wherever possible. The exterior was constructed from prefabricated panels and still has a garage-like look because of two bi-folding doors that open into the living room for cross ventilation and an expansive feel. An entrance was also added off the driveway to make sure the studio had its own private access, separate from the main house.
Taller than it is Wide
The dining, living, and kitchen areas coexist on the main floor along with a bathroom behind a curved wall. A tall 6m in height at its highest point, the room more than makes up for what it lacks in width and has a spacious open feel. There is no doubt that the large sliding glass doors and windows above them contribute to this feeling, providing the bulk of the natural light that enters the space while also opening directly onto the enclosed deck, which they use for outdoor cooking, dining and relaxation. McFadden created a light and bright aesthetic by going for all-white finishings on everything from the joinery to the couch. (Don’t worry, it has removable slipcovers so that it's easy to clean, a feature McFadden noted was pretty well essential with two little kids.)
Studio Storage
Clever storage and space-use abounds throughout the studio. The space beneath the stairs is dedicated to a tall cupboard, huge pull-out drawers, and a niche for the TV, which even has a hidden shelf behind it for the remote or any other items they want to tuck away. Similarly, the furniture was carefully selected based on its flexible use. Take the coffee table, for example; it can be plopped in front of the TV or taken outside to double as a stool.
With such a small space, McFadden was also considerate about ensuring that the kitchen did not distract the eye or overcrowd the space. Integrating the appliances and drawers into a timber joinery unit, she tucked the kitchen into the corner leaving an ever-so-small space for the curtains to slide into while open. Giving it a touch of pizazz is the recycled glass benchtop (a more sustainable option for a concrete look) as well as brass hardware that will patina beautifully over time with the exposure to the sea salt in the air.
Carefully Considered Details
The bedroom is situated upstairs in an enclosed mezzanine with a large window that looks out onto the ocean view through the windows on the exterior wall. More than just a visually stunning retreat, McFadden put a lot of thought into practical elements like how sounds from downstairs might affect someone asleep upstairs. Carpets were laid on the stairs to help absorb sound, and a door was added to create a space for some privacy. Two smaller windows that open to the outside were added into the upstairs space to let in fresh air and keep it from getting too stuffy.
It really is the little details like these that can take small space design from good to great: “I think designing small spaces is really interesting, and personally I love the challenge”. McFadden told Never Too Small. “With larger spaces, there are many more options but with smaller spaces, there are probably only one or two options that will really work that maximise privacy and light. Because you have fewer square metres to build, you can invest in better quality fixtures, finishes, and materials”.
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Images by Never Too Small
