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Becky and Francisco Smout and their two children in the house at 14 Abbott St, Ascot, they have just renovated. Photo: Brock Beazley Photography.
PALM Springs may be a long way from Brisbane, but you wouldn’t know it stepping inside this Ascot masterpiece.
Inspired by the US desert resort city, seasoned renovators Rebecca and Francisco Smout set out to create a luxurious, yet relaxed, renovation of a 1930s Queenslander at 14 Abbott Street.
“The Palm Springs inspiration comes from summer vibes and really appeals to our Queensland lifestyle,” Mrs Smout said.
BEFORE: The front of the house at 14 Abbott St, Ascot, before the renovation.
AFTER: The front of the house after the renovation. Photo: Brock Beazley Photography.
The resulting five-bedroom, three-bathroom house comes after one of their biggest and most rewarding renovations yet — and during a particularly challenging period.
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The original house on the block was in a state of disrepair, but the Smouts could see it had good bones.
“There was also an early 1970’s renovation, including a beautiful salmon toilet which unfortunately didn’t make the final cut!” Mrs. Smout said.
BEFORE: The living and dining area of the house at 14 Abbott St, Ascot, before the renovation.
AFTER: The living and dining area of the house after the renovation.
The transformation involved repositioning the existing house on the allotment to allow them to extend and build underneath — completely rebuilding the house from the ground up.
This lower level became an incredibly spacious, open-plan living area, with a modern kitchen, living and dining area opening out to the yard, where they created an outdoor entertaining area and pool, incorporating grass and oversized pavers.
“We love the downstairs kitchen/living/dining/bar space,” Mrs Smout said.
“It’s the center of the home and connects the inside/outside seamlessly with the yard and pool.
“It’s framed by an 11m wide x 3m high corner opening stacker, which stacks completely behind the external walls.”
BEFORE: The kitchen as it used to look in the house at 14 Abbott St, Ascot.
AFTER: The kitchen after the renovation is barely recognisable.
The new side extendsion to the home now serves as the main entrance, while a double-storey void helps connect it to the newly created bedrooms and study upstairs.
The Smouts also saw the opportunity to build over the carport and create a terrace area linking to the upstairs living room and overlooking the pool area.
They recruited architect Graham Lloyd and CHS Building to help them create an open, light and transparent design, combined with quality finishes, such as terrazzo and Arebescato marble.
BEFORE: One of the bedrooms in the house at 14 Abbott St, Ascot, before the renovation.
AFTER: One of the bedrooms in the house after the renovation.
AFTER: The master bedroom after the renovation.
AFTER: The epic walk-in wardrobe off the master bedroom.
Mrs Smout admitted that modernizing a traditional Queenslander was not without its challenges.
“Shoehorning modern services, for example, into a traditional home has required significant thought and pre-planning,” she said.
“But we believe the home now strikes the right balance between old and new, seamlessly.”
Mrs Smout said the couple’s biggest challenge was negotiating with Brisbane City Council on all aspects of the project.
BEFORE: A living area of the house at 14 Abbott St, Ascot, before the renovation.
AFTER: The living area now leads to an outdoor entertaining area and pool.
The Smouts document their projects on their Instagram account: @smout_property and call this project ‘The Gables’ of Ascot.
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The kitchen offers marble bench tops, a soaring splash back and an extensive butler’s kitchen.
Central to the ground floor are living and dining spaces that extend seamlessly to the alfresco entertaining, in-ground pool and flat grassed yard.
Presenting further living space, a stylish bar features marble bench tops, gold shelving, wine cellar and seating space.
A separate media room, bedroom with built-in robe, bathroom and large laundry complete the ground floor.
Upstairs hosts an additional living room, spacious office, large outdoor terrace and four of the bedrooms, including a master suite with large ensuite offering freestanding bath, dual basins and dual rainwater shower.
The walk-in robe is palatial and will impress the most discerning of buyers.
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Time taken: 12 months
Total spend: $1m plus
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