Room to grow – in more ways than one

Growing kids and an outgrown play space

This North Bondi backyard had always been an important part of family life.

For years, one corner belonged entirely to the children. A cubby house, a slippery dip, and countless hours of imaginative play had made it one of the most well-used parts of the garden.

But families don’t stand still. They grow.

This play area had served Fred and Deborah’s family well for many years. But as children turned into teenagers, it was finally outgrown.

And then their youngest sparked an idea.

She suggested the cubby house be turned into an art studio.

“Her sense of dimension was completely unrealistic – nothing would have fit,” Fred tells us.

But the suggestion got them thinking.

Instead of removing the outgrown play equipment and reclaiming that corner of the garden, they could replace it with something bigger, better and far more useful. Something that their older children could make use of as they grew into the next stage of their lives.

“That’s why we looked into cabanas,” Fred says.

There was really only one place they needed to look. Friends of theirs had previously purchased a home with a Melwood already in the backyard, and the building had long made an impression on the couple.

“We had always admired its stylish appearance, so it was an easy decision to choose Greenspan,” Fred explains.

Grown into the garden

Choosing Greenspan for its stylish designs may have been easy. As it turned out, so was the design process.

“The process was simple and pleasant,” Fred recalls.

After visiting the Display Centre and discussing their ideas with their Design Solutioneer, attention turned to how the building would sit within the garden.

A site visit helped refine both the design and the positioning of the new Melwood. But the advice given extended beyond the building.

“He even gave us design advice in terms of preparing the site so that the new cabana would blend in perfectly and look like it was always meant to be there,” says Fred, “Which is exactly what transpired.”

An established palm tree became a key part of that thinking. Rather than removing it, the design was adapted to accommodate and preserve it, with a custom cut-away section incorporated into the eaves to allow for the trunk.

From day one, this building would settle into its surroundings and the garden would appear to grow around it – not the other way around.

Growing ideas

At first, their vision was relatively simple. A retreat where the kids could relax, create, and spend time with friends.

But as the idea grew, so did the possibilities.

“The initial inspiration was to replace the cubby house with an artist’s studio and kids’ playroom,” Fred recalls. “As we thought about it more, it made sense to include a home theatre setup that both adults and teenagers could enjoy”.

What began as a replacement for a cubby house was evolving into something much more – a family retreat where movie nights, major sporting events and everyday downtime could be enjoyed by all.

It was a Melwood Mod 12, measuring 3.2m x 3.6m, that allowed this vision to unfold. Compact enough to sit comfortably within the garden, yet spacious enough to accommodate this family of five and their friends, it struck exactly the right balance.

Double doors to the front and side open onto an L-shaped deck that wraps around the two sides, allowing the interior to be opened up almost completely to the outdoors, creating the easy, breezy indoor-outdoor lifestyle synonymous with beachside living.

“In summer we open it all up so you can be very comfortably accommodated in an essentially outdoors setting,” says Fred.

White doors and windows set against Western Red Cedar weatherboard cladding painted the gentlest grey bring the timeless coastal appeal a North Bondi garden setting demands. Meanwhile, “Woodland Grey” Colorbond® roofing brings a subtle contrast that accentuates this design’s sleek skillion roofline.

And built around that established palm tree, the building belonged from the beginning.

Growing with the family

While the exterior was designed to sit seamlessly in the garden, the interior was designed to bring people together.

“We gyprocked the interior, selected some nice furniture, installed a data projector and retractable screen, Sonos sound system with in-wall speakers, hard-wired internet, Apple TV and air-conditioning,” Fred tells us.

The result was a fully equipped media room where family and friends could gather to watch movies, sporting events and television in complete comfort.

The projector and retractable screen instantly transformed the space into a backyard cinema. In-wall speakers delivered immersive sound without cluttering the room, while the comfortable furnishings made it somewhere the family wanted to spend time together. It created an entirely new living zone without needing to alter the house itself.

And for a short while, that was exactly how it was used.

But then 2020 arrived, and the world changed.

Growing into more

“It was invaluable during COVID when space and working from home became priorities,” Fred explains.

Almost overnight, homes needed to function as workplaces, classrooms and sanctuaries from the world… all at once. Fortunately, Fred and Deborah already had a flexible space ready to adapt.

“We didn’t anticipate it, but having had the cabana and the technology all installed about 12 months prior to the pandemic left us well prepared for the challenges posed by having more people working/studying from home than usual during the lockdown.”

The media room quickly became a home office too, offering what Fred described as ‘splendid isolation’.

A desk was added, the hard-wired internet connection proved invaluable, and the separation from the main house became one of the building’s greatest strengths.

What had originally been designed for entertainment quickly adapted to supporting work and study as well.

And unlike many makeshift work-from-home arrangements created around dining tables and spare bedrooms at that time, this one had been unintentionally purpose-built for the job from the outset – comfortable, quiet, connected and only a few steps from the house.

Growing with the seasons

The pandemic may have passed, but working from home hasn’t. And the flexibility that made the Melwood so valuable during that time remains just as relevant today.

Seven years after installing it, Fred and Deborah still use the building every day – whether for work, entertainment, or simply spending time together with family and friends.

“I just love it,” Fred tells us.

In summer, it opens up entirely.

“During the Australian Open tennis, we have a barbecue and open up the cabana ‘Cinema Paradiso’ style so we can watch the match from the dining area on the back patio of our house,” Fred explains. “It also makes the backyard more inviting and usable.”

In winter, the experience shifts. The doors close, the heating goes on, and the insulated interior becomes a warm and welcoming retreat. The family gathers on the sofa amongst the cushions and throws, with a movie playing on the big screen.

All year round, it has its place in this family’s life – and Fred and Deborah have no hesitation in recommending the same to others.

“We tell anyone who asks us that they should definitely get a Melwood. In fact, you’ll be wondering how you ever managed without one.”

Growing into tomorrow

Its versatility is perhaps its greatest strength.

Years on, the children who inspired the project have grown older, and family life has changed. The way the building is used has changed too.

What grew from an idea sparked by an outgrown cubby house evolved into a family retreat, a media room, a home office and the heart of outdoor living. And today, it remains as good as new, continuing to serve the family exactly as intended.

Tomorrow, it will become whatever the next stage requires.

Because family life will always continue to grow, and a Melwood will always grow with it.

Design	Melwood Mod 12
Size	3.2m x 3.6m
Add-ons	L-shaped deck
Cladding	Western Red Cedar weatherboard/Board and batten
Doors	Double timber full glass doors
Windows	White aluminium
Roofing	Woodland Grey Colorbond®

All measurements are approximate.

---