Old houses are chronicles of suburbs. They occupy and give insight into how residents lived and worked throughout the years, and give the streets of suburbs like Seddon a historic charm . Single fronted Victorian cottages proliferate in the inner-west, but often light, air and openness are lacking due to the typical long and narrow frontages.
The existing home was no exception – cramped and dark living areas and an ill-placed bathroom from a previous renovation interrupted the flow at the rear of the house. The kitchen was not large enough for entertaining, and along with the living room, these communal spaces acted as thoroughfares rather than functional rooms. The original features were present but were lost in a dated and dense colour palette.
The aim of the project was to breathe new life and light into the ageing home. This was done through thoughtful planning, which consolidated rooms where they needed better connection, and reconfigured the layout so that spaces were not wasted. Every nook and cranny was utilised in the plan with storage built in old doorways and walls.
Despite the challenges of a narrow plan, the programme was reimagined within the existing building envelope. The front rooms remained intact, however the focus of the renovation was to create a better space for living at the rear. The communal areas were pushed out to the north facing yard for optimum light. The dated kitchen and bathrooms were transformed while the front rooms were freshly painted and repaired.
What was the brief?
The house originally consisted of two bedrooms with a small study. The brief was to turn it into a three bedroom home to accommodate a young family without compromising on the access to light or encroach too much on the garden. The living areas needed to feel open and connected, with clear visibility between the areas for when the family are all together. The design needed to be sensitive to what was there, make the house liveable and have minimal impact on the existing home.
What were some of the design features?
The living areas face north – an ideal orientation to for access for solar access. Large timber windows face the sun to bring warmth and light into the previously dark home.
The palette is neutral, with hints of greens, timbers, and textured surfaces to add character and interest. Victorian Ash windows, floorboards, and shelving bring warmth into the home. In the original bedrooms, the fireplaces were repaired and re-finished with green tiles.
What were the challenges and opportunities?
The biggest challenge was to create the illumination of a bigger space within the existing narrow form. The kitchen and living areas were consolidated into one open space. The dining area is tucked around the corner so that it is connected and visible, but out of the way of the daily activities. The new laundry was made into a Euro laundry arrangement at the end of the kitchen, close to large windows to maximise light to the north. A window facing the deck brings the outdoors in and creates the illusion of more space in this nook, with at handy servery giving access to the kitchen and BBQ area outside.
The bathroom was moved away from the back of the house and placed in the centre. In doing this, more space was given to the areas which would be used most.
Team:
Architects: Circle Studio Architects
Photographer: Jade Cantwell
Materials Used:
Vic Ash Veneer, Ultramatt Black Polytec & Plyco cabinetry. Vic Ash Floorboards, Timber Window and Door Frames.
Academy Tiles - Kayoborder bathroom feature tile. Classic Ceramics - Floor, Wall & Hearth Tiles.
Furniture and homewares:
Simple Form
Toast & Honey
Life Interiors
Ceramics by, and client’s own
Artwork:
Living Room Wall Sculpture by Katrina Tyler - Freight Train Dosie Doe
Living Room Drawing by Talitha Kennedy
- A fragile mess of contact (splay)
Painting by D.OCallaghan
- Farmland Composition III
Single Bedroom Painting by Jasmine Mansbridge
