A pop of pool cabana colour

When family visits, they stay

With a daughter in Denmark, Peter and Sue’s children and grandkids are scattered across the world. Visits are precious, and when the whole family makes the journey to the Southern Highlands of NSW, they stay!

Which meant Peter and Sue needed somewhere comfortable to accommodate their guests. At first, the obvious solution was an extension. Add an extra room to the house. Create another bedroom. Job done.

But when they started gathering quotes to discover the cost – around $200k to add one room under the main roof – they quickly changed their minds!

Taking a step back, Sue and Peter began to look at what they had, what they needed, and what else they could do.

They were already lovingly landscaping their gardens. Inspired by overseas travel, lush green lawns were framed by whitewashed walls and courtyard-style bench seating, with classic Mediterranean planting softening the edges. But they were yet to start on the unused end of the garden.

What would truly transform their garden into a Mediterranean paradise would be a pool. And they soon discovered that for less than their quoted costs for a one-room extension, they could add this, as well as a pool cabana, and complete their beautiful oasis.

Design matters

Decision made, pool in, garden renovations ongoing, the couple began looking at pool cabana suppliers.

“We looked at a number of options and landed on Greenspan based on building design and affordability,” Peter tells us.

The hard work on their beautiful garden was nearing completion, and it was essential that this addition was in keeping with their overall landscaping vision. Something bright and fresh with clean lines and timeless appeal. A building that would slot effortlessly into their carefully curated aesthetic and apply the finishing touch to their resort-style garden sanctuary. With control over the finished design – everything from colours, cladding, windows, doors and layout – this was assured with a Greenspan design.

Visiting the Strathfield Display Centre, Sue and Peter explored the options on offer to get a feel for the size, space and quality of the buildings, meeting with their Design Solutioneer for guidance and support.

“The team at Greenspan was great and answered our questions and ultimately designed, in consultation, a room that best suited us,” the couple recalls.

That room was a Melwood Mod 18. An enduring design that draws inspiration from coastal architecture, it was the perfect accompaniment to both their pool and garden.

A DIY family project

For anyone confidently capable with a set of tools, the PreCrafted nature of a Greenspan building presents an opportunity to tackle a DIY install.

The hard work is done in the factory. Wall panels are handcrafted with precision, the timber framing pre-clad and pre-fitted with windows and doors. Roof panels arrive with insulation and Colorbond® sheeting pre-fitted to the frame. The grid floor bases are pre-constructed. It’s as simple as connecting these modular parts together and seeing an almost instant transformation – most Melwoods are installed in less than a day.

So, Peter decided to take this project on himself and, enlisting the help of his sons, turned the building of this family room into the ultimate family affair!

By all accounts, Peter found the process enjoyable and easy. And that’s evident in the final result.

Making a sunny splash

Sitting proudly at the head of the pool, the Melwood Mod overlooks the water and gardens, effortlessly integrating with every landscaping element that surrounds it.

The board and batten cladding has been painted to match the “Surfmist” roofing, the windows and sliding doors completing the all-white palette that flows seamlessly on from the whitewashed stonework of the gardens.

The frontage is an impressive wall of glass that welcomes natural light deep into the interior – a sliding door framed with sidelights and the signature highlight windows that define the Mod design.

But it’s the pop of colour delivered by the yellow and white striped awning that brings it all to life.

Looking as at home here as it would in a European coastal village, it’s the cheerful, sunny detail that adds character and truly brings out the Mediterranean vibe Peter and Sue have so thoughtfully achieved.

A space brimming with life

Inside is just as light, airy and inviting with a palette of off-white tones complemented by light timber flooring and accents. The walls and ceiling have been lined with Easycraft tongue and groove boards for a clean, streamlined, coastal backdrop.

A large sofa takes pride of place, and it’s here that you’ll often find Peter and Sue sipping on a morning coffee, relaxing with a book, or taking in the view. The pool itself is much-enjoyed, and this shady space offers respite from the sun on hot days, towels and shelter conveniently on hand on cooler ones. There’s a large floor area for the couple to follow along with stretching and light weights programs on the adjacent TV.

But it’s when the family visits that this Melwood comes to life.

With the sofa converting into a generous bed, the grandchildren have a flexible space where they can hang out, play games, watch TV and settle down for the night. And having recently had a houseful over Christmas – Denmark contingent included – the timing couldn’t have been better!

And it’s not just visiting relatives who like to hang out in this beautiful space. When the family once again flies the nest, Peter and Sue have found company from a magpie lark, a regular visitor who has made stopping by the cabana part of its daily routine.

Plenty gained, nothing sacrificed

One simple Melwood Mod has given Peter and Sue so much more than a bedroom extension ever could.

Now they have that much-needed guest room. But they also have so much more! A hangout and sleepout for the grandkids when they come over. A pool cabana that offers shelter and shade, extends the pool season, and makes every swim more comfortable. A special spot to enjoy a morning coffee, accompanied by their feathered friend. A peaceful poolside retreat for a quiet afternoon with a good book. A reason to do some stretching.

And the perfect finishing touch to their perfect garden.

But it’s not just about what they’ve gained. Equally important is what they didn’t have to sacrifice. Time, money…and most important of all, their garden.

Unlike a house extension that would have disrupted the garden they’d worked so hard to create, their Melwood has simply finished it. All that careful landscaping remains untouched and undamaged. Instead of encroaching on their previously perfected outdoor space, the Melwood simply slotted effortlessly into an unused corner with barely a footprint left behind.

And so, their Mediterranean-inspired paradise is now complete. A sparkling pool at its heart. Lush lawns. Whitewashed stone at every turn. And a cheerful pool cabana with clean lines and that distinctive pop of colour that ties it all together.

This eye-catching yellow-striped awning might inject personality and complete the bright, sunny aesthetic. But it’s what happens underneath it – the coffee mornings, the gentle workout sessions, the grandchildren’s laughter, the magpie’s daily visits – that brings it to life.

Something this unused corner is now brimming with.

Peter and Sue’s versatile pool cabana is a Melwood Mod 18 measuring 3.2m x 5.4m.

It features board and batten cladding, aluminium sliding doors and windows in “White”, and Colorbond® roofing in “Surfmist”.

All measurements are approximate.