Afterpay NOW AVAILABLE - Buy Now, Pay Later
When we married and had our first child, forty years ago, our search began in earnest, for a home; somewhere to raise our family. In those days, it wasn’t unusual to seek out houses for sale in the classified adds of the Sydney newspaper. And that was how we came across our first home. Situated at the bottom of a hill, looking north over the southern headland of Coogee, we loved it the minute we saw it. It wasn’t grand, with one and a half bedrooms and a tiny kitchen and bathroom, but it was perfect for us. And I remember thinking that I would never again wish for anything more in my life. Well, that noble thought didn’t last long, because over the next five years two more babies came along and we needed more rooms, more space.
We’ve since sold that house and moved to a smaller place, but our family home was loved and lived in for 24 years. The one thing I miss about it, is not the view out over the ocean, but its north facing aspect. On all but the greyist wet days of winter, we woke with the sun shining in the eastern windows. In the early hours of the morning, the sun rises quite quickly and soon the light and warmth flooded the entire back room which was our living space; kitchen, dining and lounge room in one.
In winter, the sun is lower in the sky, and so the warmth comes into the house all day till it passes out of sight as it sets in the west. In summer, the sun is higher in the sky, and while you still get the light all day, the searing heat of the sun is less. How perfect is nature for a north facing home
Our backyard also faced north which meant the garden always had full sun, so you could grow anything. No shade patches, so the lawn was always lush and green and the kids had a sunny yard to play in.
Every house has a its downside and that’s usually the south facing side, which is cooler and damper as it gets no sun. However, rooms facing south can be a cool retreat in summer but need heating in the cooler months.
Comfort in your home is totally dependent on the amount of warmth and light that enters the house. So when you’re looking at buying or renovating a house, the aspect of the property is one of the most important factors to consider.
When thinking about home interiors, like me, you might cringe at the memory of your childhood home. The best version of our family home was new green carpet and a black high-backed vinyl lounge with orange nylon-cushioned seating. My mother was proud of her modern choices and teamed up the “mod look” with a teak extender dining table and a sliding-door settee.The bright green kitchen cupboards and red laminex kitchen table and chairs were all part of the ‘70’s look.
