Dudley, Lake Macquarie Renovation
A major renovation and extension of a 1970s fibro home in Dudley, Lake Macquarie. The project added a new living room, three bedrooms, a covered alfresco area and timber entertaining deck, along with a main bathroom, ensuite and powder room finished in striking teal and blue tile work, rainfall showerheads, premium brass fittings and custom vanities with oval mirrors.
Transforming a 1970s Fibro Home for Modern Family Living
This Dudley renovation started with an original 1970s fibro home that had plenty of potential but no longer reflected the way the family wanted to live.
With three growing and active children, Kady-Rose and Lance decided it was time to move ahead with the major renovation and extension they had been planning. Creating more space, improving storage and opening the home to outdoor living became the key drivers behind the project.
Rather than leaving an area they enjoyed living in, the renovation gave them the opportunity to create a home that better suited their family’s needs while staying in the Dudley community they already loved.
The renovation included a new living room, three bedrooms, laundry, powder room, main bathroom and ensuite, along with extensive structural alterations, a large covered alfresco area, timber entertaining deck, updated windows, external cladding and a new Colorbond roof spanning both the original home and the extension.
Today, the home feels completely different. There is more room for family life, more flexibility throughout the floorplan and a much stronger connection to the outdoors.
Project Snapshot
- Location: Dudley, Lake Macquarie
- Project type: Major renovation and extension
Scope of works
- Living room
- Three bedrooms
- Laundry
- Main bathroom
- Ensuite
- Powder room
- New extension
- Covered alfresco area
- Timber entertaining deck
- Lined skillion roof
- Large sliding glass doors
- Sliding kitchen servery window
- James Hardie cladding
- Aura Windows and doors
- New Colorbond roof
- Structural framing upgrades
- Brick pier upgrades
- Termite protection system
Reworking the Home
Home design has come a long way since the 1970s, and many of the changes made during this renovation focused on improving the way the home functions day to day.
The original layout was restrictive and lacked the space, storage and connection to outdoor living the family wanted for the next stage of life. The renovation and extension provided additional living space, improved storage and created better connections between the different areas of the home.
The exterior received new James Hardie cladding, updated windows and a new Colorbond roof, helping tie the original structure and extension together.
While much of the work is visible in the finished result, a significant amount happened behind the scenes to make the transformation possible.
The Alfresco Area
The alfresco area quickly became one of the most important parts of the project.
Built alongside the home, the space includes a timber deck, lined skillion roof, large sliding glass doors and a sliding servery window connecting directly back to the kitchen.
Opening up this side of the home changed the way the family uses the space. The kitchen, living area and deck now work together, making everyday meals, family gatherings and entertaining far easier than before.
Rather than stepping outside to a separate entertaining space, the deck feels connected to the house and forms part of the overall living area.
The Structural Work
As with many renovations, some of the most important work is the part that disappears behind the plasterboard.
A major part of this project involved finding the best way to connect the new extension with the original 1970s structure. Existing supporting roof struts were retained where possible and recut to suit the new roof configuration, allowing parts of the original home to continue playing a role in the finished build.
The project also included upgraded brick piers, a complete termite protection system and new engineered timber framing.
Red Alert LVL products were used throughout the framing package to provide strength, stability and long-term performance.
If you are interested in the construction side of the renovation, we have covered the framing system in more detail in our blog: Why We Used Red Alert LVL E11 in Our Dudley Reno (and Why It Matters).
Main Bathroom
The main bathroom takes its cues from the coastline not far from the home.
Tathra Sky Wavy Gloss feature tiles bring colour and texture to the room without dominating it. They are paired with Cosmo Plain White wall tiles and Norrock Warm White Matt floor tiles from Tile Warehouse, creating a palette that feels fresh, light and easy to live with.
A bath from Tradelink was an important inclusion for a family with young children, while natural timber finishes introduce warmth throughout the room.
The space is also fitted with Thermogroup underfloor heating for added comfort during the cooler months.
Products and suppliers
- Reece: tapware, basin and toilet
- Tradelink: bath
- Tile Cloud: Yabby strip drain
- Temple & Webster: mirror
- Tile Warehouse: Tathra Sky Wavy Gloss feature tiles
- Tile Warehouse: Cosmo Plain White wall tiles
- Tile Warehouse: Norrock Warm White Matt floor tiles
- Thermogroup: underfloor heating
Ensuite
The ensuite heads in a completely different direction.
The curved shower wall immediately became one of the standout features of the entire renovation. Finished with Manual Verde Cobre Gloss feature tiles and balanced by Dreamy Cream floor and wall tiles, the room has its own distinct personality while still feeling connected to the rest of the home.
Reece fixtures, a Smeaton Bathrooms mirror and Thermogroup underfloor heating complete the space.
The renovation also created something the original home did not have: a dedicated space for the parents away from the busier family areas of the house.
Products and suppliers
- Reece: tapware, basin and toilet
- Tile Cloud: Yabby strip drain
- Smeaton Bathrooms: mirror
- Tile Warehouse: Manual Verde Cobre Gloss feature tiles
- Tile Warehouse: Dreamy Cream floor and wall tiles
- Thermogroup: underfloor heating
Powder Room
The powder room may be one of the smaller spaces in the home, but it certainly does not disappear into the background.
Luxe Sea Blue Gloss and Luxe Sea Blue Matt tiles create a striking feature wall, while Cosmo Plain White wall tiles and Norrock Warm White Matt floor tiles keep the overall palette balanced.
One of the standout inclusions is the Smeaton Bathrooms LED mirror. The integrated lighting allows the colour temperature to be adjusted between cooler and warmer tones, changing the look of the room depending on the time of day and personal preference.
Products and suppliers
- Reece: tapware and toilet
- Tile Cloud: basin
- Smeaton Bathrooms: LED mirror
- Tile Warehouse: Luxe Sea Blue Gloss feature tiles
- Tile Warehouse: Luxe Sea Blue Matt feature tiles
- Tile Warehouse: Cosmo Plain White wall tiles
- Tile Warehouse: Norrock Warm White Matt floor tiles
Working Through the Weather
This project saw more than its fair share of rain.
Extended periods of wet weather created difficult site conditions and plenty of mud. At one stage, even Doug, our excavator, became bogged and needed a crane to get him back out.
Projects do not stop because conditions become difficult, but they do require patience, problem solving and a willingness to adapt when circumstances change.
Changes Made Along the Way
One of the advantages of renovation work is that opportunities often reveal themselves once construction begins.
As walls are opened up and spaces take shape, there are occasions where a different approach can improve the finished outcome.
Throughout this project, a number of design refinements were made in collaboration with Kady-Rose and Lance. Drawing on years of renovation experience, we were able to suggest several changes and practical improvements as the build progressed. Many of those suggestions became some of the homeowners’ favourite parts of the finished project.
Having completed renovations across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie for many years, we have learned that some of the best decisions are not always made on the plans. They are made during construction, when the spaces can be seen, walked through and properly understood.
What Changed for the Family
Like many renovation clients, the goal was not simply to create more space. It was about creating a home that worked better for the next stage of family life without leaving the area they enjoyed living in.
The family gained:
- Three bedrooms suited to a growing household
- More storage
- More flexibility throughout the home
- A dedicated parents’ ensuite
- A family-friendly main bathroom
- Better indoor-outdoor connection
- A covered entertaining area for year-round use
- More room for three active children to enjoy the home
The finished home sits comfortably within the Dudley neighbourhood while providing the lifestyle the family was hoping for when they first started planning the renovation.
What the Homeowners Had to Say
“John and his team did a major renovation for our family home. He was fantastic. Honest and genuine, you could tell he really wanted to do a quality job and it shows in all the details throughout our home. John was incredibly organised with lining up all the trades coming through, no time wasted. We are so happy with our new home and look forward to booking him in again for the next stage.”
A few weeks after moving back in, they also shared:
“We have been in for a few weeks now, obviously still have a lot to do but we are loving every bit of our house, really can’t thank you enough! You have a great team. Hope we book in to do the front of the house soon.”
Project Team and Key Suppliers
- Builder and project management: Nexus Built
- Electrical: Modern Power Group
- Plumbing: D. Houston Plumbing & Gas
- Windows and doors: Aura Windows
- Underfloor heating: Thermogroup
- Pest and termite protection: Newcastle Pest Control
- Bricklaying: Builtstrong Bricklaying
- Building supplies: Saddingtons Building Supplies
- External cladding: James Hardie
- Roofing: Colorbond
- Photography and videography: Alite Creative
- Bathroom product suppliers: Reece, Tradelink, Tile Cloud, Temple & Webster, Smeaton Bathrooms and Tile Warehouse
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