PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
Outbyte PC Repair · freeA free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.
Run a Free PC Scan →ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
A 1950s weatherboard house was extended with a deliberately contemporary, flat-roofed living volume. The original white, horizontally clad house remains legible, while the new black, vertically clad box creates a clear old-versus-new composition. Inside, an Escea DL850 gas fireplace in Volcanic Black anchors the new living room, with a lateral flue route used to work around a window above the fire.
The project in brief
The project was reported by Architecture & Design on 28 August 2018 in a feature titled “Escea fireplace adds a modern touch to 1950s weatherboard house extension.” Architect Evelyn McNamara designed the addition for owners who wanted more contemporary space without disguising the character of the existing house.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rather than imitate the original weatherboard walls, the design makes the age difference explicit. The existing house keeps its white, horizontal weatherboards. The extension is a black, box-like volume with vertical cladding and a flat roof. That contrast is the project’s central architectural idea; the fireplace reinforces it indoors with a dark, linear presence and an industrial-leaning material palette.
| Project element | Reported detail | Design consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Existing house | 1950s weatherboard construction with a white exterior and horizontal boards | Provides the traditional reference point for the addition |
| Extension form | Flat-roofed, box-like volume opening toward the back lawn | Reads as a separate contemporary intervention rather than a replica |
| New cladding | Black and vertically oriented | Creates a strong visual contrast with the old horizontal weatherboards |
| Living-room connection | French-door wall removed; kitchen and new living area connected | Turns previously separate zones into one open-plan area |
| Fireplace | Escea DL850 gas fireplace in Volcanic Black | Acts as a dark focal element within the new room |
| Flue arrangement | Pipes routed sideways to bypass a window above the fireplace | Shows how the installation was adapted to an existing opening |
The article identifies fuel efficiency and the home’s overall style as the two considerations behind the fireplace choice, based on interior designer Tomi Williams’s reported design brief. It does not publish a measured efficiency figure, heat-output test, price, installation cost or current availability.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
Why the old-and-new contrast works
Horizontal versus vertical lines
Weatherboard houses are strongly read through their horizontal siding. The long boards visually stretch the original façade and are associated with the proportions and construction language of the period. Vertical cladding on the extension changes the direction of those lines, so the addition is immediately distinguishable even before its colour is considered.
This is more than a decorative swap. A new wall that copied the old boards could make the extension look like a false continuation, while a completely unrelated façade might feel detached from the house. Here, the different orientation establishes separation while the extension’s scale and position keep it tied to the existing plan.
Black against white
The black exterior gives the new volume a graphic silhouette against the white original house. Dark cladding can make a box recede in some garden settings, but it can also read as a deliberate architectural object when its edges, roofline and junctions are crisp. In this project, the flat roof and dark skin operate together, giving the addition a quieter, more geometric profile than the older pitched or traditionally detailed fabric.
For a painter or renovator, the lesson is to treat colour and board direction as one composition. Changing only the paint colour would produce a weaker distinction; changing only the cladding direction would still leave the extension visually close to the original. The reported scheme uses both differences at once.
How the extension changes movement through the house
Removing the French-door wall
The original living room opened onto a deck above the lawn. The wall containing the French doors was removed so the kitchen could connect directly to the new living area. This move makes the extension part of the everyday circulation route rather than an isolated rear room.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
The opening also changes sightlines. From the kitchen, the new living space and the back lawn become part of a longer visual sequence. From the extension, the older rooms remain present instead of being hidden behind a narrow doorway. The project therefore gains space through connection as much as through added floor area.
A lower living room with the old ceiling height
Two steps descend into the new living room, but the ceiling remains level with the older house. The feature says this height relationship enhances the sense of open space. The lowered floor gives the addition a distinct room-like character without introducing a higher ceiling that would make the new volume feel oversized beside the original house.
This is a useful spatial strategy for extensions where a single-storey roofline must stay visually disciplined. A change in floor level can define the new zone, while a continuous ceiling datum helps the kitchen and living area read as one connected interior. The steps also mark the transition without requiring a full-height partition.
The fireplace as the interior’s organising element
Model and finish
The installed appliance is an Escea DL850 gas fireplace finished in Volcanic Black. In the reported room, its dark face works with the black exterior rather than competing with it. The fireplace is not treated as a freestanding retro feature; it is integrated into a composition of hearth, surround, stone and floor-level change.
Suspended hearth and granite surround
The feature describes an artificial suspended hearth beneath the fireplace and a granite slab surround extending along the new living room. NZ River Rocks were placed in the hearth, referencing the surround’s soft grey tones and the wider colour scheme of the home.
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
That combination balances hard and soft visual cues. The granite introduces a continuous mineral surface, while the river rocks add irregular shapes and a natural texture. Against the black fireplace, the grey stone prevents the wall from becoming a single flat dark plane. The hearth also gives the appliance a visual base, which is especially important when the design language is otherwise clean and rectilinear.
Mid-Century Modern with an industrial edge
The owners’ brief, as reported through interior designer Tomi Williams, combined Mid-Century Modern design with an industrial edge. The fireplace supports both parts of that description: its strong horizontal presence and restrained finish suit a Mid-Century-influenced room, while the exposed logic of a substantial hearth and stone surround adds an industrial note.
That description should not be mistaken for a complete specification of the interior. The 2018 feature does not provide a full schedule of furniture, paint codes, joinery dimensions or lighting products. What it does establish is the intended balance between period-aware simplicity and tougher, more utilitarian materials.
The unusual installation detail: routing the flue around a window
A window was positioned above the fireplace. According to the feature, the flue pipes were run sideways to bypass it. This is the project’s most notable technical coordination detail because the location of the opening influenced how the heater could be connected.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The lateral route is a reported detail of this particular house, not a general instruction for gas-fireplace installation. Flue design depends on the exact appliance, approved components, clearances, building regulations and the conditions at the site. Anyone adapting the idea today should have the proposed route designed and certified by the fireplace manufacturer and a suitably qualified installer. The article does not state the pipe dimensions, route length, terminal position or approval pathway.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
For designers, the broader point is coordination. A window, roof edge or structural member can determine whether a preferred fireplace position is practical. The opening above the fire was retained, and the flue solution was adjusted around it rather than treating the window as an afterthought.
Heating claims: what the feature establishes—and what it does not
The article reports that the fireplace heats the extension and the wider open-plan area. It also mentions a Smart Heat Phone App. Those details indicate that the appliance was intended to serve more than a small decorative nook and that remote control was part of the installed system.
No quantified heating capacity, room temperature, running cost, gas consumption or efficiency percentage is supplied. There is also no independent performance test in the feature. “Fuel efficiency” appears as a selection consideration in the design brief, not as a measured result for this house. Current buyers should therefore consult up-to-date manufacturer documentation and local installer advice rather than use this project as proof of a particular performance level.
What this project teaches about extending a weatherboard house
Make the junction intentional
An extension beside an older weatherboard home will always create a junction between two construction languages. Decide whether the new work should blend in, defer to the original or contrast with it. This project chooses contrast, then makes that choice consistent through colour, cladding direction, roof form and interior detailing.
Use the plan to create connection
The removed French-door wall and the two-step transition do more than add a room. They establish a new route from kitchen to living area and then toward the garden. When planning a similar project, map daily movement, furniture positions and views before fixing the opening size or floor level.
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
Coordinate openings with services
The window above the fireplace demonstrates why service routes should be considered during design development. Mark windows, beams, roof edges and likely flue paths together. A fireplace may fit on a drawing yet require a different route once structure and openings are resolved.
Let a limited palette carry the concept
The reported palette is restrained: black and white exterior surfaces, a Volcanic Black fireplace, soft-grey granite and river rock. Limiting the number of dominant colours allows changes in texture and orientation to do more of the visual work. This approach can be especially effective in a small extension, where too many finishes may make the room feel busy.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Questions to resolve before using the idea today
- Is the DL850 still available? The 2018 feature confirms the model used in this project but does not establish present-day manufacture or sales availability.
- What will it cost? No purchase price, installation charge or operating-cost figure is provided. Obtain a current quotation for the appliance, flue components, hearth, surround, labour and any structural work.
- Can a flue pass sideways around a window? Do not assume so from this example. The route must be checked against the current appliance instructions, clearances and local requirements by an appropriately qualified professional.
- Will one fireplace heat an open-plan area? The feature says this installation heats the extension and wider open-plan zone, but it gives no room dimensions or performance measurements. A current heat-load assessment is needed for another house.
- How should the exterior be painted? Match the coating system to the actual cladding material and exposure. The source identifies the new cladding as black and vertical but does not specify a paint brand, colour code, sheen or maintenance schedule.
A practical decision framework for a similar renovation
- Record the existing character. Photograph the weatherboard profile, board direction, window proportions, roof form and exterior colour before designing the addition.
- Choose the relationship. Decide whether the extension will match, mediate between or contrast with the original. Document the decision in elevations and material samples.
- Test the connection. Draw the kitchen, opening, steps, living furniture and garden route together. Confirm that the new room improves circulation rather than creating a dead-end.
- Reserve the fireplace zone. Coordinate the appliance, hearth, surround, window and structural framing before finalising cabinetry or finishes.
- Verify the heating system. Use current manufacturer data and advice from a qualified installer for output, fuel use, controls, ventilation and flue requirements.
- Sample the palette outdoors and indoors. Check the dark cladding in daylight, the white existing boards in shade, and the relationship between the fireplace finish, stone and floor materials.
- Confirm current compliance and availability. The project is documented in 2018; products, regulations and supply conditions may have changed since then.
What remains specific to the 2018 case study
This house is a documented example of one design response, not a universal recipe for renovating every weatherboard home. Its success depends on the particular relationship between the existing kitchen, the former French-door wall, the lawn, the window above the fire and the owners’ preference for a contemporary industrial-leaning interior.
The strongest transferable idea is not a particular colour or appliance specification. It is the discipline of making each decision support the same old/new narrative: retain the original house’s identity, give the addition a clear contemporary form, connect the rooms physically, and coordinate the fireplace with the architecture instead of adding it after the fact.
Source and date
The project details in this article come from the Architecture & Design feature by Architecture & Design Team, published 28 August 2018. Because that report is historical, it should not be read as confirmation of current product stock, pricing, performance ratings or regulatory approval.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
