Author: Second Storey Solutions
This clever renovation by Second Storey Solutions turned a humble 1964 home in Kewdale into a stunning, light-filled two-storey family residence, without the need to relocate. With strong ties to their neighbourhood and two young children settled into school, the owners were eager to stay in their community while creating a home that could meet their growing family’s needs.
The brief was clear: maximise space and functionality, preserve the recently upgraded kitchen, and minimise disruption throughout the build. The answer came in the form of a 77m² prefabricated second storey, constructed off-site and craned into place in a single day. Not only did this reduce the construction timeline to just eight weeks, it was completed with minimal disruption to the homeowner’s and their young family.
The Design Brief
The design needed to future-proof the home while maintaining its charm. Key features included:
- A new upper floor with all bedrooms, including a parents’ retreat and two children’s bedrooms
- A shared bathroom, separate WC, and an upstairs living area
- A redesigned ground floor with a guest bedroom, toy room, and open-plan living, kitchen and dining
- Clear sightlines to both gardens for easy supervision
- Plenty of natural light and strong indoor-outdoor connection
- Integrated storage throughout
- Retention of the existing kitchen to reduce cost and waste
- Minimal disruption and a fast build timeline
This balance of functionality and heritage saw the original fireplace and timber floors lovingly retained, preserving a touch of the home’s 1960s character.
What Makes it Unique
What sets this home apart is how much was achieved within a tight footprint and even tighter timeline. With a 101m² ground floor and no option for expanding outward, the prefabricated second storey was a game-changing solution. Installed with precision in just one day, it expanded the home’s space by 77%, while modular construction helped reduce waste, labour and disruption.
Despite site constraints and overhead powerlines complicating access, the team delivered a beautifully resolved design that now serves as a forever home. Modern living areas, clever use of space, and preserved original features all work together to create a home that feels brand new, without losing its history.
Second Storey Solutions – Jason Windows Residential Sliding Doors
How Windows and Doors Shaped the Design
Windows were key in delivering on the clients’ vision, flooding the new upper floor with natural light and framing views of the nearby parklands and lake. Working closely with the design team, the homeowners selected Jason Windows’ Residential Series, including fixed panels, awning and sliding windows, along with a sliding door to connect the indoor living areas to the outdoors.
Strategically placed windows were used not just for aesthetics, but also to support passive solar design and cross ventilation. The use of standard clear glass and pearl white frames ensures a clean, timeless look that complements the home’s neutral palette, while standard flyscreens and a fly door add comfort and practicality for everyday family life.
Overcoming Challenges
This build came with some significant hurdles, from the limited ground floor footprint to restricted access and overhead powerlines. Integrating the new upper level structurally with the original 1964 home took meticulous planning. Complex engineering was required to remove multiple load bearing walls to reconfigure the space to create an open-plan layout, all while preserving the kitchen.
Light and ventilation were also challenging on the compact block, with privacy regulations limiting window placement. Through smart design, the final result captures park views without compromising privacy or energy performance.
Second Storey Solutions – Jason Windows Aluminium Windows
Sustainability Features
Sustainability was another key focus, with a number of eco-friendly strategies used to reduce waste and energy use:
- Reused and resold materials like roof tiles and structural timber, with some repurposed into furniture by the owner
- Colorbond Surfmist roofing for solar reflectivity and thermal performance
- High-performance insulation: R4.0 in ceilings, R2.5 in internal and external walls
- Passive solar design and cross ventilation through thoughtful window placement
- Modular construction to minimise on-site waste, emissions, and labour
- Retention of the existing kitchen to avoid unnecessary demolition
These features made the renovation not only smart and beautiful but also kinder to the environment.
The Result
In just eight weeks, this home was transformed into a spacious, light-filled and highly functional two-storey residence that perfectly suits a growing young family. The seamless blend of modern design, sustainable choices, and quality materials, like those from Jason Windows, has resulted in a forever home that delivers comfort, style and practicality, all while honouring the past.
Discover the full story behind this Kewdale home transformation – explore the gallery and read the case study here.
About the Author
Second Storey Solutions
