A Home Nearly Two Decades in the Making
August 2026
Renae has been a long-time supporter of Thor’s Hammer, first visiting us at the Brickworks back in 2008. Since then, she has completed two renovations of her Canberra home using Thor’s Hammer recycled timber, as well as fitting out her business premises, Nourish & Breathe, on Dairy Road.
Second renovation with the addition of the master bedroom.
“When I first visited Thors at the Brickworks back in 2008, it immediately reminded me of the crowd I used to hang out with - timber boat builders”
Renae owns a beautiful boat, Phoenix, with a timber interior made from Teak, a timber long associated with boatbuilding. We currently have recycled Teak flooring in stock, along with Teak suitable for furniture building, salvaged from Indonesia through our partnership with Wood be Good. Contact us to learn more.
“I am a big fan of timber and natural materials - this is Teak inside my boat Phoenix”
The First Renovation
For her first renovation in 2009, Renae used recycled Spotted Gum flooring in the entry and living areas. A Spotted Gum shelving unit was also created using timber supplied by Thor’s Hammer, while Renae put the offcuts to use by making a coffee table that is still in use today.
External cladding
Renovating Again in 2025
The latest renovation, completed in 2025, was designed by Archer Design Studios and built by TSW Constructions.
The renovation to “Scout’s House” was a small expansion of the existing home, adding a recessed reading nook to the dining area and a new main bedroom pushed towards the rear yard. External cladding was also added to the existing house to help tie the old and new parts of the home together.
For this renovation, recycled Blackbutt / Dense Browns, Spotted Gum and mixed brown Australian hardwoods were used throughout the project.
A Bedroom Surrounded by Timber
The new main bedroom features recycled Australian Blackbutt / Dense Browns flooring in 78 x 18mm boards.
The internal cladding and ceiling boards in the main bedroom are made from Australian Mixed Brown Hardwoods in a 65 x 12mm tongue-and-groove profile, which works brilliantly for cladding. The ceiling lining boards also continue into the non-renovated part of the house, helping tie the spaces together.
Recycled timber was also used for the walk-in wardrobe, while external recycled timber posts feature around the new main bedroom.
Tying Old and New Together
External cladding was installed around the new main bedroom and in sections of the existing façade, visually tying the timber-clad extension back to the original house.
One interesting detail is the difference in how the cladding is exposed to the weather. Both the original house and the new extension have areas of cladding with some eave protection, although the level of cover varies. Over time, Renae has noticed differences in the colour of the timber depending on how protected or exposed each area is to the elements.
From Phoenix to Home
When planning her latest home renovation, Renae subconsciously found inspiration somewhere beyond the house itself.
Like on board her boat, Phoenix, the additional main bedroom is surrounded by timber, creating the enclosed feeling of a galley below deck.
That sense of being immersed in wood became part of the inspiration for the new bedroom at home. We asked Renae if this was intentional, but she didn’t think so: “probably subconsciously, but not intentionally, but I do want it to be like inside a boat”.
Cozy “below deck” view of the 2nd renovation.
And There's More to Come
Renae is currently planning her third renovation, which will marry the front of the house with the newly renovated rear. If you’re planning a renovation or extension, contact us early in the design process to see how recycled timber can be incorporated into your new build.
We've also featured Renae’s commercial fitout for her business, Nourish & Breathe. Spoiler alert: it also includes extensive use of recycled timber.
Photography by Bianca Knox
