When Brett and Alana Harvey bought their Hawthorne home back in 2022, it needed “a lot of love”.
But it came with a feature they never knew they wanted – a brand new, detached and council approved granny flat.
“The granny flat out the back was a winner,” Brett said.
“It has been invaluable for when family and friends visit and I often work out there if I need some extra privacy.
“But it could also be a great Airbnb as it has its own entry and its just minutes away from popular cafes, restaurants, wine bars, boutiques and cinemas.
“Honestly, we weren’t sure about it when we moved in but it has been really awesome having it, a real value add.”
Before the reno: 33 Mullens St, Hawthorne
And now. The family are keen for a new project
The granny flat was brand new when the family, which includes Finn, 3, Harper, 7, and Gigi, 9, moved in.
It sits at the rear of the property and includes a generous living/dining area with an attached kitchen and a patio, a full bathroom and a bedroom with a built-in robe.
But the rest of the house was in need of some help, Brett, an airconditioning and electrical tradie, said.
“Moving (from the house) wasn’t planned but we really enjoyed the renovation process,” he said.
“My wife is a nurse but she really loves design and art so we are looking for another renovator.”
Brett and Alana Harvey with kids Gigi 9, Harper 7 and Finn 3 own a granny flat they use for guests and work Pictures: Adam Head
Since buying the house, the couple came up with a design and sent it to a draftsman, with builders turing the once tired house into a tropical oasis.
They built in underneath and added a guest suite, an open plan kitchen, living area, and a family/dining space, which flow out to the covered entertaining area, poolside lounge, pool and sauna.
Here it is as seen from the pool
They renovated the top evel, but left the floorplan largely untouched.
It includes another living area, three bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry and a master suite with a walk-in robe, ensuite andprivate balcony.
“We would like to see another project come to life,” Brett said.
“Maybe we are crazy but Alana loves design and all that stuff.”
Place New Farm agent Sarah Hackett, who is marketing the home at 33 Mullens St, said a well done granny flat could really add to a sale price.
She said that some buyers would pay “a couple of hundred thousand more” or “say 10 per cent more” for a house with a detached dwelling compared to one without.
The granny flat at 33 Mullens Street, Hawthorne, has a seperate entrance
They did a full reno
“I don’t like to just call it a granny flat because it could also be an office that you could run a business from,” she said.
“We are also getting a lot of expats and interstate buyers and for them, having a place for family and friends to stay, where they can stay for longer periods, is also a big plus.
“For working families, they can also offer a detached space for an au pair which can be a gamechanger.
“The wellness trend is also going crazy, and people are adding saunas, gyms, hobby spaces.
“There are so many advantages to that extra space, not to mention the potential income from short term accommodation.
“You can rent one for $250 a night in some suburbs – that’s enough to cover a weekly grocery shop in a cost of living crisis.”
33 Mullens St, Hawthorne
33 Mullens Street, Hawthorne
English (US) · 