This Carrington warehouse was a first a coal-testing facility in the 1980s and then a work space for an environmental sound engineer. The first engineer who looked at the space recommended that the owners knock it down. But, as Swannell Group builder Kipp Flack-Suttor pointed out, you can’t create space like this without the history that comes along with it...

FOURTH-GENERATION builders Nathaniel and Jonathon Swannell have carpentry in their blood.

Growing up in the Wollombi Valley and later the Belligen area, the brothers have vivid memories of the rich aroma of bluegum, ironbark and spotted gum as children.

THE air is rich with the warm, spicy aroma of the recycled Australian hardwood that lines the floors, windows and benches of the home of another happy Swannell Group client.

The brief from the client was simple: open up the back of the Mayfield art deco home to create a seamless open plan living, dining and lounge that spills out onto a covered deck.