Home > Cases > Aussie Style: Enduring Appeal of the Classic Queenslander Veranda

Aussie Style: Enduring Appeal of the Classic Queenslander Veranda

http://www.decor-ideas.org 01/16/2015 02:14 Decor Ideas 

Walking into a Queenslander is like stepping into a bit of Australian history. These homes are found in Queensland — Australia’s northeast state, bordering the Pacific Ocean and the Coral Sea — and neighboring areas. Their high ceilings, French doors, wood, glass detailing and beautiful, wide verandas make these special homes to be in. Some Queenslanders are gracious and grand, while others are just simple worker’s cottages. But they have one thing in common: They have at least one veranda.

Take a walk with us through these verandas, or covered porches. You’ll see quintessential elements that can work for homes in other parts of the world that enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Traditional Deck by Dan the Sparky Man
Queenslanders are a classic example of vernacular Australian architecture, found mainly in the city of Brisbane. European settlers needed a way to deal with the heat and humidity of subtropical Queensland, and Queenslander-style homes were a design response to the settlers’ new environment. Verandas were and still are designed to provide shade, catch breezes and offer protection from afternoon storms, but they also provide a semioutdoor room that’s perfect for everyday informal living. It is not uncommon to spend an afternoon as a guest and barely set foot inside your host’s home. The Queenslander veranda is the ultimate in outdoor living. Here are some key elements that help to make it unique.

Wide, elevated spaces.
Queenslander homes are often elevated to enhance the effect of cooling breezes. They are built on stumps, which allows air to pass under, and have a lightweight wood construction, which allows the heat to escape quickly. Deep, wide verandas in Queensland’s climate are perfect for informal living most of the year, because they offer a comfortable, protected space with a breeze and an elevated view.

Traditional Exterior by Dan the Sparky Man
Heritage detailing. A veranda framed with white posts, brackets and decorative balustrades is the symbol of the quintessential Queenslander. Decorative features are added inside and out and include embellishments such as balustrades, column brackets, gables, louvers, lattices, battens, colored glass and transoms. They look beautiful and also help to provide privacy, sun protection and direct air movement.

Eclectic by Walk Among The Homes
French doors. French doors lead from the house to the veranda. They are thrown open as soon as one walks into the Queenslander. They allow the hot air to escape and fresh breezes to flow in. They also create beautiful vignettes, such as this one, all around the veranda. Security is usually not a concern, as lattice veranda doors and panels, along with louvers, provide privacy and protection.


Traditional Deck by Highgate House
Lattices, louvers and awnings. All are typically included in the Queensland veranda. They provide a flexible means of controlling breezes, blocking sun and protecting the verandas from torrential downpours. As mentioned, they also have the bonus of providing privacy and security where required.

Eclectic Kids by Walk Among The Homes
Partial enclosure. Verandas are usually partially enclosed spaces, but some have become fully enclosed over the years. That’s because as people’s needs have changed, so too have their homes. Extra sleeping spaces are sometimes required, and parts of extensive verandas have been enclosed to create bedrooms, called sleepouts. Kitchens and bathrooms have also been added to built-in veranda space.

Queenslander homes are highly flexible. It is great fun to walk around one and look for clues on the floor and ceiling as to where the original walls may have been. This playroom is a classic example of a sleepout that has been repurposed to meet the needs of the family.

Beach Style Living Room by Black & Spiro Interior Design
How to Make the Most of a Veranda

Make it so much more than a doorstep.
Verandas are like a big welcome mat for Queenslanders. They are the first room you enter; they set the tone for the rest of the home. They are much more than a passageway between public and private lives — they also provide a place to stop and stay awhile. A comfortable and well-designed veranda provides the backdrop for hours of pleasure, alone or with friends.

Tropical Porch by Highgate House
Choose the right furniture. The semiprotected nature of the Queenslander veranda allows for the use of robust decor that can take a little weather. Sisal rugs, sofas with washable covers, mirrors and floor lamps all work beautifully. Queensland verandas do eclectic well. Thrift store treasures, hand-me-downs and antique finds can look amazing when tied together with coordinating soft furnishings.

Beach Style Deck by Highgate House
Embrace the indoor-outdoor connection. Verandas are an essential link between the indoors and the outdoors. They are perfect places for grouping beautiful pots with lush tropical plants or letting an orchid shine. Plants or freshly cut foliage are often found year-round on verandas. They offer a living dimension that reinforces the indoor-outdoor connection and create a visual link to the larger landscape.

Beach Style Patio by Highgate House
Enjoy the climate. Brisbane enjoys a pleasant climate all year round, which is why a lot of living takes place outside, and the veranda is used day and night. Many people here have tables and chairs for dining and informal seating such as a daybed piled with cushions. It is also common to find outdoor kitchens with barbecues, sinks and small refrigerators on well-equipped verandas.

Eclectic Exterior by Charcoal Interiors
There is a graciousness and warmth to Queenslanders. They rose from necessity — a response to the hot and humid climate — to become an important part of Australia’s cultural heritage, and a testament to the importance of design for where and how we live.

More:

14 Beautiful In-Between Spaces: Verandas Around the World
Stilt Houses: 10 Reasons to Get Your House Off the Ground

URL: Aussie Style: Enduring Appeal of the Classic Queenslander Veranda http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25419.html
Category:Interior
Related Images Recommend
Houzz Tour: Luxe Materials and Glass Give an Old House New Life
Why You Should Paint Your Walls More Than One Color
5 Ways to Jump-Start a Whole-House Decluttering Effort
My Houzz: A Family Home Big on Style and Space
Room of the Day: East Coast Preppy Meets West Coast Cool
A Stylist’s Secrets for Giving Your Kitchen the Wow Factor
A Stylist’s Secrets to Giving Your Kitchen the Wow Factor