A difficult site solution

Malcolm had a simple need for somewhere of his own – a private hobby room, away from the main house, where he could pursue his interests in peace. It turned out to have one of the better views on the property and was the centrepiece for his garden to be completed to landscaped perfection.

Where his longed-for hobby room should be positioned in the garden was obvious… but the terrain was less cooperative. Being in a harbourside suburb on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, his backyard was sloping and rocky – the kind of ground that makes a conventional slab-based build complicated, expensive, and invasive. Excavation, earthworks, concrete – a traditional approach would have been a project in itself before a single wall went up.

But a Melwood is designed for exactly this kind of site. Installed on piers rather than a concrete slab, it sits lightly on the land – no cutting into rock, no reshaping the natural contour of the block. The terrain stays as it is, and the building works with it.

“Everything was done for me with little fuss,” he tells us, describing the experience from start to finish. “Greenspan was very flexible in what I wanted.”

Outside: Built for the garden

He recalls that “Melwood offered the best range,” eventually settling on a Melwood Verandah 12. Completing the fit out and finish himself, he painted the board and batten cladding a deep green that settles naturally into the surrounding planting and mature garden.

His choice of Colorbond® roofing in “Monument” is echoed in the verandah posts and the exterior frames of the timber full-glass double doors, creating a cohesive palette amongst the lush backdrop.

One end of the verandah is enclosed and lined with wood panelling painted white, along with the ceiling. This clever addition offers privacy from overlooking neighbours and shelter from the wind – both of which come with a hillside coastal position. The white of the lining connects with the “White” framing of the panoramic window that sits adjacent to the double doors, keeping the exterior crisp and consistent from every angle.

Inside: Light, warmth and a view or two

The coastal location inspires the inside, too.

The walls and ceiling feature the same white wood panelled lining as the verandah to connect the two spaces seamlessly, while delivering a cosy, classically coastal atmosphere.

The building opens up with the generous proportions of the clearspan pitched ceiling, giving a sense of height and space. Warm timber flooring and furniture, and touches of natural materials throughout, bring warmth and texture to the space. Meanwhile, subtle splashes of blue and yellow décor hint at sea and sand.

A coastal painting on the wall creates a second view from within, echoing the one visible from the frontage of glass. Soft lighting cast by wall sconces transforms the interior from bright and fresh by day, to cosy and inviting by night.

Now for the garden

Once installed and finished, Malcolm’s Melwood inspired the completion of the rest of the garden. With the building as its anchor, the surrounding elements came together through lush planting and tiered decking that stretches out below.

Steps down from the verandah’s deck lead onto an outdoor entertaining area below, extending the usable space well beyond the building itself. A spot for relaxing with a morning coffee, hosting friends on a summer evening, or simply sitting amongst the garden Malcolm had worked so hard to create. The hobby room and the garden are one, each making the other better.

An unexpected selling point

But then a lifestyle change prompted a move, and Malcolm had to leave his beloved hobby room behind.

There was an upside, though. His house sold rapidly – something he attributes to his Melwood.

“Having sold my property in a week, there was no doubt that a major selling point was that I had a studio where other similar properties did not.”

Now, he still looks back on his Melwood with great fondness.

“It enabled me to have a private space of my own away from the rest of my property,” he says.

And so he has advice for anyone considering doing something similar.

“Having taken the first step, take the second step.”

Malcolm’s hobby room is a Melwood Verandah 12, measuring 3.2m x 3.6m. It features board and batten cladding, a panoramic aluminium window in “White”, timber full glass double doors, and Colorbond® roofing in “Monument”.

All measurements are approximate.