A wide wraparound verandah and years of carefully planned renovations have shaped a hilltop Cornubia home that centres on outdoor living.
Owner David Cooper said when he and his family bought the property at 1–3 Umah Street in 2013, they could see the potential in the house despite a few practical limitations.
“It had a lot of good points but a few weak points, and we could see the potential to turn it into something really nice,” Mr Cooper said.
Over the past 13 years, the family has carried out a series of upgrades, including a complete kitchen renovation, landscaping works, a swimming pool and the installation of ducted air conditioning.
One of the home’s most distinctive features is the wraparound verandah, which measures about three metres wide and runs around the house.
Mr Cooper said the covered space had become an extension of the home’s living areas.
“It’s about 188 square metres under roof, so it’s almost like having another house outside,” he said.
Different sections of the verandah are used for dining, seating and entertaining, with room for a pool table in one corner.
The property’s elevated position also creates steady breezes through the home.
Mr Cooper said the previous owners had not installed ceiling fans because the airflow was strong enough to keep the house comfortable.
“They said we wouldn’t need them because the house was so breezy,” he said.
“For the first couple of years we didn’t even have fans.”
Inside, the lower level has also been reworked. A former workshop area in the garage has been converted into a games and gym room featuring a full-sized snooker table.
Internal stairs were added to connect the space with the upper living areas.
Another feature Mr Cooper believes stands out locally is the backyard.
While many hillside properties in Cornubia sit on steep blocks, the property has about 3140 square metres of largely flat, usable land, with the lawn extending directly from the living areas and kitchen.
Mr Cooper said the family had enjoyed living at the home but were now preparing to move overseas.
