A family's 1960s double-brick home renovation — and the $100k garage that stole the show
Even in a quiet house, getting a baby to sleep is the biggest challenge many new parents face.
So, what about in a loud one, during a renovation with power tools on in the next room?
For most, a nightmare.
For Ben and Rhianna, it was reality.
"Our newborn eventually had to learn to nap through the sound of hammer drills going into his bedroom wall," Ben laughs.
It wasn’t all noise and disruption, though.
“There were also lots of beautiful moments watching him get excited about the delivery trucks arriving to drop off materials,” the art director and photographer from Adelaide adds.
It's a fitting snapshot of the young family's journey renovating their 1960s double-brick home.
It’s not the biggest house on the street. It’s not the fanciest, either.
There was no reinventing the wheel design-wise.
And the timing was never perfect.
But they made it work as life unfolded around them.
And now, after every renovation decision was traced back to the people who'd have to live with it, their new home helps that life work.
“I don’t necessarily want clients to love my work instantly or be offended by it – I just want the work to solve the problem at hand,” Ben says of his professional philosophy that influenced how the couple approached the build.
“Some weeks I sit in front of a computer for 50 hours, others I shoot on location, and some nights I set up the studio as a photography space to handle bottles of wine all night.
“We wanted a home that allowed for all of this without me having to leave every day.”
So, what started out as a garage upgrade to accommodate a new family car soon became a $100,000 purpose-built studio.
It's a transformation playing out in backyards across the country.
As housing affordability pushes families to make more of what they already have, converting underused garages into flexible, multipurpose studios has become one of Australia's most popular renovation moves.
And this one was worth every cent.
Every day, it’s an extension of the home, a separate living area for when the main house feels tight.
Sometimes, it’s Ben’s workshop, housing 3D printing, laser cutting, sewing and screen-printing setups - all designed to pack away when family time takes priority.
Other times, it’s son Hamish’s space.
“His train set is on a suspended table in the garage, and we have mobile Duplo workstations hidden behind curtains,” Ben explains.
“This space doesn’t have to be all of those things all of the time, we approached it as a flexible environment that we can change as needed.
“Work takes up a lot of our lives, but we enjoy it being a family affair.
“Often our son will help pack down my photography equipment or help his mum (a junior primary school teacher) laminate teaching resources.
“I love that there is a nice crossover between work and family life that we all get to be a part of.
“It’s a luxury to be able to make our spaces a creative mess and simply close the door until we’re mentally ready to clean it up the next day.”
Internally, like many homes of this era that have become increasingly prized for renovators, the original floorplan was “logical” – one of the reasons that drew the couple to the corner-block property after a cold call from a real estate agent.
The spare room next to the master became an ensuite, while a walkthrough room was transformed into a wardrobe.
There’s also a new treehouse that sits under the shade of a big fig tree in the front yard.
With this place, they've solved a lot of their problems.
But, like most first-time renovators, they encountered plenty of new ones.
Taking on on much of the physical work himself – along with much of the design before engaging a draftsperson – Ben discovered an entirely different industry to his own digital world.
"Much of my day job is digital and somewhat reversible," he explains.
"Having to make decisions with permanent, physical repercussions took some adjusting to."
That adjustment extended to managing trades, where his creative optimism frequently collided with builders' practical shortcuts.
"I was constantly arguing with trades as to whether something was genuinely impossible or if it was just difficult," Ben says.
"I learnt why architects exist.
"It's hard to impart your optimism to a builder when it's not their house and you're their smallest job of the month."
But there was one thing that baffled them most.
The day after settlement, the previous owners had come back and removed the Puratap.
Yes, the water filtration system.
An odd welcome to homeownership.
Or maybe a friendly warning that even with the most careful planning, some things remain entirely out of your control.
With renovations – and getting a baby to sleep.
Photography: Ben McPherson
Words: Jordan Pinto
RHIANNA AND BEN'S PLACE
Built: 1960s
Land: 710m2
Key renovation: Garage-to-studio conversion, ensuite addition, wardrobe conversion, treehouse.
WHAT THEIR PLACE TAUGHT THEM
Make it about you.
Focus on the things you interact with every single day that would make your life easier if they were fixed.
More money, more time.
Double your budget and triple your timeline.
Why architects exist.
It’s hard to impart your optimism to a builder when it’s not their house and you’re their smallest job of the month. You have to advocate for your vision, and have a backup trade in case your first one becomes difficult to deal with.
Swipe across to see more from before and during the renovation
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