Green Building
Top Ideabooks
My Houzz: An Australian Home Appeals to 3 Generations
Two separate ecofriendly dwellings on an Adelaide property mean family is never far away
Houzz home tour contributor; Carousel Media productions include photo essays, multi-platform projects, animated documentary, social documentary, and community collaborations.
At Carousel Media we combine compassion and curiosity to create compelling films, photo essays and designs which challenge, empower and inspire audiences as well as celebrating strength, resilience and the human spirit.
Houzz home tour contributor; Carousel Media productions include photo essays,... More »
Dixie and Sam Jeffries bought this terrace house on a small inner-city block in Adelaide, Australia, envisioning a sustainable space to house several generations. They teamed with architects Oli Scholz and Simone Vinall of Scholzvinall to design two inspiring homes: an extension to the existing house for Dixie and Sam's family, and a two-story house for Sam's parents at the back of the property. An edible garden, rainwater tanks, solar panels, concrete slab floors and a host of fruit trees combine to create a thoughtful place that three generations can call home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Dixie and Sam Jeffries; their two children, Jackson and Amali; and Sam's parents, Chris and Wendy Jeffries
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Size: 300 square meters (3,552 square feet) for both dwellings; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: To harness the full potential of the Australian sun, both homes feature solar hot water with an electric boost function and solar panels to generate electricity.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Dixie and Sam Jeffries; their two children, Jackson and Amali; and Sam's parents, Chris and Wendy Jeffries
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Size: 300 square meters (3,552 square feet) for both dwellings; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: To harness the full potential of the Australian sun, both homes feature solar hot water with an electric boost function and solar panels to generate electricity.
| |
| The open living, kitchen and dining space forms the hub of the main house. Dixie and Sam collect artwork by local artists to adorn their walls, including a painting by Paul Sloane and a photograph by James Geurts, seen in this shot. |
| |
| The lean-to kitchen on the original terrace house was knocked down and replaced with this bright and uplifting space. "The adults as well as the children wanted the house to be a fun place," says Dixie. The kitchen features stainless steel benches and backsplashes for easy cleaning. Cabinetry: T and C Joinery; light shade: Kartell, Space Furniture |
| |
| The jewel-toned kitchen cupboards set the mood in the open and cheerful combined kitchen and dining area. The floors are polished concrete with underfloor heating. |
| |
| A horizontal window behind the kitchen sink provides a view out to the courtyard but maintains privacy between the two separate dwellings. Sam powder coated the kitchen sink fixture in a neon orange. Stove: Westinghouse, Harvey Norman |
| |
| Large north-facing windows and glass doors in the living room area maximize natural light. The space makes good use of louvers for cross ventilation. Sam bought this couch on sale — it was originally a lime green, and he had it re-covered in gray felt. Monkey: Raw Space |
| |
| The simple, minimalist remodeled bathroom features louvered windows for ventilation. Bathroom tiles: ceramic hexagon mosaic, Academy tiles; taps: Roger Seller, Estilo |
| |
| Restoring the staircase in the terrace house revealed a rustic baltic pinewood. Prints: One Small Room |
| |
| Sam and Dixie's bedroom is in the original part of the house and sleeps three. They plan to design built-in wardrobes for the bedrooms. |
| |
| Nectarine trees sit on the front veranda of the original terrace house. The living space extends to the east of the building, harnessing the northern light. |
| |
| Concrete block and Hebel clad the exterior walls of the extension. |
Both houses have rainwater tanks for garden use. The homes also recycle graywater. Solar panels help generate electricity and heat water.
The central courtyard space that connects the two dwellings attracts plenty of birds. The families often eat in the courtyard and also use the space to grow tomatoes, snow peas, herbs, greens and fruit.
Bird feeder: The Conservatory
Bird feeder: The Conservatory
| |
| Chris and Wendy's house shares many features with the other, including polished concrete floors, in-floor heating, open-plan living and louvers for cross ventilation. Light: Nur, Artemide; dining table: Dog Dragon |
| |
| Their unit is 80 square meters (861 square feet), but lofty ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors help it retain an open feel. Framed photograph: James Geurts |
| |
| A window looking out to the trees near the back fence sits above the kitchen's polished concrete countertops. A display of black and white objects includes family heirlooms, such as the bird tile. Cabinetry: T and C Joinery; chairs: replica Eames, Matt Blatt; light: Mega Bulb Pendant, Great Dane Furniture; salt and pepper grinder: Eva Solo, Top 3 |
| |
| Family heirlooms, including this antique pine settee and African wood sculpture, sit at the bottom of the stairs. The raw wood tones and textures add warmth to the neutral open-plan living space. |
| |
| The smaller house has two bathrooms, including an upstairs en suite. Ceramic round mosaic tiles: Academy Tiles |
| |
| An alcove over Chris and Wendy's bed looks into the bathroom but is high enough to maintain privacy. The bed was custom made onsite, since its size made it impossible to move up the narrow staircase. All three generations love living in the central city location, which is an easy walk to the markets, local parks and Jackson's kindergarten. "Having your parents living in your backyard might be unconventional," says Sam. "But I love getting to eat Dad's veggies, and Mum is always popping around to try on something she is knitting for the children." Quilt cover: Pop, Sheridan Houzz call: Share your creative, multigenerational home with us! |
Ideabook published on Sept. 11, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
The grandparent's bedroom is very attractive, but WHY put their bedroom upstairs? Do these architects not know about aging? And is there some good reason to have an opening into the bathroom, or is that just an architectural folly.
Some attractive features but overall, not convinced.