Every nook needs a cranny

By name and nature

‘The Nook’ is a beautifully modernised classic brick bungalow and the much-loved home of Jenny and her family. But like many of the post-war homes that line the residential streets of Wollongong, there was one problem.

And it was named for it.

Its size.

“As a family of five living in a relatively small cottage, a versatile additional space was needed,” Jenny explains.

With just three bedrooms and a single living space, there wasn’t much room left for all the things a growing family needs from a home. There were teenagers who needed somewhere to spread out, a younger child with very different needs, a husband working towards his PhD, and a whole collection of hobbies, interests and activities competing for the same limited space.

What they needed wasn’t just another bedroom, study or lounge. They needed somewhere that could take on the many different demands that the house simply couldn’t keep up with.

Some days, that meant somewhere quiet to work. Other times, it meant somewhere to craft, listen to music, have friends over or simply get away from everyone else for a while.

The cottage couldn’t take on all this life, but the garden could.

An eye for dollars, detail, and design

Jenny works in real estate, so she knows better than most that adding space to a property isn’t just about making family life easier. Done right, it’s a genuine investment.

So, while the immediate need was more space, her expert eye identified that a Melwood is more than just extra square metres.

“We felt that it would add value to our property,” Jenny says.

Spending her days in other people’s homes meant she also had a keen eye for design and detail. And these were the qualities that drew her to Greenspan in the first place.

“We chose Greenspan and Melwood for the attractive barn shape, specifically the roof pitch, the stylish aesthetic of their marketing, and competitive pricing,” she recalls.

And then she had the first conversation.

“Our preliminary interview with our Solutioneer was impressive,” Jenny tells us. “No challenge was insurmountable, no question unanswered. He used the technology at his disposal to accurately illustrate the build, and variations were welcomed.”

That flexibility mattered. Jenny had a strong idea of the aesthetic she wanted, and the ability to make considered changes meant the finished building could be truly hers rather than simply a carbon copy of a standard design.

It wasn’t just the design and consultation process that impressed Jenny, though. It went from initial concept to 3D reality with surprising speed and efficiency – the installation process saw the building reach lock-up stage within a day, something Jenny found incredible to watch.

Every nook needs one

The base design that Jenny chose was a Melwood Porch 18, a generous 3.2m x 5.4m, with a welcoming covered porch at the front gable end.

While the traditional barn shape was part of its initial appeal, Jenny had something more contemporary in mind for the finished look, choosing a deliberately pared-back palette. The entire building, aside from the warm tones of the merbau deck, is drenched in the rich, organic tones of Monument – from the roof to the doors and windows, right through to the board and batten cladding, which was painted to match.

She made a couple of small but deliberate changes as part of the installation, too. The decorative finials normally found on the gable were left off, while the decked porch sides were built without balustrades.

The result is the familiar Melwood Porch form, but with a distinctly earthy character.

And there was only ever one name for it, of course.

‘The Cranny’.

Not only is it the traditional counterpart to ‘The Nook’, but it’s an appropriately cosy name for a space that’s tucked under the huge canopy of the neighbour’s old tree – another feature Jenny deliberately designed around. In the colder months, when bare of its leaves, it lets the winter sun shine in and warm the interior. In summer, its dense foliage offers shade and protection.

It’s a space with a name that captures exactly what Jenny wanted it to become – that little extra cranny that could carve out room for all the things the house was struggling to contain.

Everything for everyone

Inside, the Cranny is everything the outside promises it will be, reflecting the same strikingly simple, calm and considered approach.

Crisp white walls and the high-pitched ceiling make the interior feel bright and spacious, something that is amplified by the mirrored cupboard that extends across the rear wall. Light timber flooring and furniture pair with the black frames of the windows, the mirrored cupboard doors and the prints that add a splash of colour to an otherwise understated, softly monochromatic palette.

And the layout has been designed to accommodate a surprising number of different uses.

First and foremost, it’s an office.

Jenny’s husband is working on his PhD, and having a quiet, dedicated environment away from the busy household gives him the essential space he needs to concentrate.

But that’s only one of The Cranny’s jobs.

A desk cleverly tucked into one end of the wardrobe provides a spot for sewing and craft projects. When it’s time to stop, the doors can simply be closed, keeping everything neatly contained and ready for next time. There’s a big comfortable sofa and a bookcase packed with books, so lazy afternoons can be lost in other worlds.

And then there are the teenagers. With two older children and one younger, it’s sometimes tricky for everyone to have their own space.

Or, it used to be.

Because now they have a place to escape to when they want to study, read, listen to music, simply enjoy some alone time, or have a sleepover with friends.

“It’s a very versatile space,” says Jenny. “I love it.”

The Cranny is truly a bit of everything, for everybody.

Furnished for a fraction

And here’s what we love most about The Cranny.

Almost everything inside was sourced primarily through Facebook Marketplace. Even the fit-out trades were found there.

But this wasn’t simply a way to save money.

For Jenny, buying preloved was how she got the look she wanted without compromising on quality. By shopping secondhand, she could afford items that would have otherwise been well beyond the budget brand new – her favourites being a collection of stunning Koala brand pieces.

So, while the entire interior may have been thrifted, it looks curated and considered, with the quality and character to match her considered, design-led vision for the space.

The soft grey queen-sized sofa bed, the unfussy timber desk and bookcase, black accents and understated colour splashes. It all comes together with intention.

It’s a fitting approach for a building that was always about getting more from less. The same resourcefulness that made one flexible room do the work of five, applied to everything that went inside it.

Every family needs one

For Jenny, the whole experience was so positive that this backyard project may not be her last.

“I’ve been so impressed with Greenspan. The experience has been phenomenal,” she tells us.

In fact, she already has another project in mind. Jenny has her eye on some land on Magnetic Island, where she thinks larger versions of her Melwood Porch would make fantastic backpacker accommodation.

That’s a story for another day, maybe. For now, this family of five has exactly what it needs right at home in Wollongong. Because it was never about creating one more room. It was about creating options.

A quiet place to study. Somewhere to make things. A space for music. Somewhere for teenagers to retreat to. A guest room when required. And, occasionally, simply somewhere to close the door and just have a little time to yourself.

“We are very happy with the result,” Jenny sums up.

Perhaps every family needs a little nook and cranny?

Design	Melwood Porch 18
Size	3.2m x 5.4m
Add-ons	1.3m x 3.2m Merbau deck
Cladding	Board and batten
Doors	Monument aluminium sliding
Windows	Monument aluminium
Roofing	Monument Colorbond®

All measurements are approximate.

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