Designing your building, your way.
ACCESSIBLE ADDITIONS,
ROCKDALE
This project focused on enabling accessibility to the entire home. The changes included: lifting the floor level in the rear sunroom to make the house single-level, adding an accessible bathroom and laundry, and creating access to the dwelling. Consultancy with the NDIS was key in the design, conforming to Australian Standard AS1428 Part 1: 2009 and Liveable Housing Design requirements. The clients wanted to retain the sunny open northeast-facing aspect while incorporating accessible changes and retaining heritage-style characteristics. Warm copper accents in the exterior light fittings and laundry sink match the beautiful orange tones in the new timber decking and balustrades.
Client Testimonial:
We had a very positive experience working with Deb Hamwood from Hamwood Building Consulting. Deb visited regularly throughout the planning process and took the time to understand us, our home and how we wanted to live in it.
She brought excellent ideas, particularly around accessibility, and was very familiar with designing in accordance with accessible housing requirements. She has a strong sense of proportion and understands how room placement, natural light and ventilation contribute to comfort and liveability.
Deb’s practical suggestions reflected considerable experience and access to reliable industry contacts. Just as importantly, her design was sympathetic to our older-style home, retaining its character and ambience while making it more accessible and comfortable. The result is a home that is a genuine pleasure to live in. We would highly recommend Deb.
![20260106_110246[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1d2f2_a66d15411da04933938c8c4ceca8964c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_454,h_605,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20260106_110246%5B1%5D.jpg)
View of the new accessible ensuite. The skylight allows natural light and privacy. The ensuite features wall-hung toilet/bidet with a toilet-roll holder doubling as a grab-rail. The shower is fully adjustable with room for a future shower seat, and a wall niche for toiletries.
![20260106_110452[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1d2f2_e1724b85a2ef433f86e140474d350712~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_149,w_1534,h_1894/fill/w_490,h_605,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20260106_110452%5B1%5D.jpg)
View of the accessible laundry with plenty of storage and beautiful rustic copper sink.
Exterior before and after:
The rear sunroom floor level was lifted to match the dwelling's internal floor level.
The skillion roof was replaced with a new Colorbond roof. A glazed curtain wall allows light into the interior dining area - glazing bars give a nod to the old glazing.
A new accessible bedroom with fully accessible ensuite is on the right, with accessible laundry and guest bathroom on the left.
An aluminium trellis screen on the left side of the verandah allows privacy to and from neighbours while permitting light penetration.
To the right of the verandah is room for a chair lift to be installed in the future for garden access. Brick steps on the left of the verandah echo the existing brick steps in the sunken garden (top image).
![20260106_110324[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1d2f2_20917b4724394d43a913e0bda2018b85~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_285,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20260106_110324%5B1%5D.jpg)
Beautiful rustic copper sink, plenty of storage... utility with a touch of nostalgia
District views while doing the laundry
Beautiful rustic copper sink, plenty of storage... utility with a touch of nostalgia