Achieving More Without Building More at this Echuca Renovation

Achieving more connection and flexibility by working within the existing footprint

Location: Echuca, VIC
Project type: Internal renovation

This project involved a retired couple who had designed and built their home in the 1980s. They loved the house and had many memories there, but as their lifestyle changed - entertaining more and spending time with grandchildren - parts of the layout no longer worked as well as they once had.

Their initial instinct was to extend. But with budget front of mind, they were open to exploring whether the brief could be achieved without adding space.

What they really wanted wasn’t more rooms, it was a stronger connection between the dining area and the backyard they loved, where long lunches and family gatherings naturally took place.

Through early planning and testing options, it became clear that a reconfiguration within the existing footprint could deliver exactly what they were looking for. The kitchen and dining areas were swapped, allowing the dining space to take advantage of the best views. A larger sliding door was introduced, opening the dining area directly to the outdoors and improving flow between inside and out.

The changes were relatively modest, but the impact was significant. The home now supports entertaining with ease, makes better use of its natural assets, and feels ready for the next stage of the clients’ lives, without the cost, time or disruption of an extension.

A quiet lesson:
Before committing to an extension, it’s worth stepping back and clarifying what you truly want from your home. Often, thoughtful planning and small changes can achieve more than building bigger ever could.