If it wasn’t for the roofline, you might not recognise this house, such is the transformation. Once tired, and with joinery and cladding that had seen better days, the 80s townhouse is now a stylish low-maintenance oasis in one of the central city’s vibrant beach suburbs. It took a head-to-toe refurbishment to elevate the 155sqm home from fatigued to fabulous. A new roof, windows, skylights, cladding, interior and landscaping are major features of the renovation, and the architect-owner now has the light-filled retreat he wanted. The north face of the three-bedroom home juxtaposes horizontal dark-stained cedar weatherboard with pale vertical cedar, and hardwood decking wraps around it, adding another layer of timber. Inside, the aesthetic is calm and soothing. Cedar features and subway tiles have been applied vertically– white in bathrooms and jade green in the kitchen. Upstairs, two bedrooms and a bathroom make the most of the 45-degree roof space. On the ground floor you’ll find everything else, including living spaces linking to a deck. It’s warm, too. The upgrade exceeds building-code requirements, ensuring comfy living conditions and Lower energy bills.