From Awkward to Shapely and Chic: A Victorian Terrace Reborn
A damp and dated inner-city Victorian terrace in Sydney is unrecognisable after a clever, contemporary makeover
Georgia Madden
30 August 2019
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, Kitty Lee, principal at Kitty Lee Architecture, reveals how she maximised space and light in a dark and narrow three-bedroom, two-bathroom inner-city terrace in Sydney, NSW, and imbued it with a zen-like calm that makes the occupants feel like they’re far from the city.
Images by The Palm Co
Answers by Kitty Lee, principal at Kitty Lee Architecture
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Chippendale, NSW
Original size: 88 square metres
Size after works: 106 square metres
Site width: The frontage of this terrace is 4.3 metres, which tapers to 2.9 metres at the rear
Architect: Kitty Lee Architecture
Stylist: The Palm Co
Builder: Renotech Building
Structural engineer: Capital Engineering Consultants
Surveyor: John B Stephen & Associates
Answers by Kitty Lee, principal at Kitty Lee Architecture
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Chippendale, NSW
Original size: 88 square metres
Size after works: 106 square metres
Site width: The frontage of this terrace is 4.3 metres, which tapers to 2.9 metres at the rear
Architect: Kitty Lee Architecture
Stylist: The Palm Co
Builder: Renotech Building
Structural engineer: Capital Engineering Consultants
Surveyor: John B Stephen & Associates
The facade after works
Gained
Gained
- A new rear two-storey addition with a new kitchen connected to a courtyard, two bathrooms (one with a laundry), and a bedroom with a Juliet balcony.
- A new light well that boosts natural light to the dining room, study and new bathroom/ laundry.
- A renovation of the existing front rooms, including new interior and exterior colour schemes and new floor finishes.
The facade before works
What was the house like originally?
A two-storey Victorian terrace with two bathrooms and three bedrooms (including an attic bedroom, not shown). The terrace is set on a narrow 73-square-metre site on an arterial road within a heritage conservation area.
Thinking about renovating? Chat with an architect on Houzz to find out what’s possible on your site
What was the house like originally?
A two-storey Victorian terrace with two bathrooms and three bedrooms (including an attic bedroom, not shown). The terrace is set on a narrow 73-square-metre site on an arterial road within a heritage conservation area.
Thinking about renovating? Chat with an architect on Houzz to find out what’s possible on your site
The original floor plan
What problems did this project address?
What problems did this project address?
- The original home lacked natural light and had damp issues.
- The existing galley kitchen (which also contained a laundry cupboard) was too small, while the ground-floor bathroom was unnecessarily large and only accessible via the kitchen.
- The courtyard was disconnected from the main living area and was therefore rarely used – a missed opportunity on such a small site.
- The first-floor bathroom and rear bedroom were dark, narrow and cramped.
The floor plan after works
What was the client’s brief?
Originally, the client only wanted to renovate the kitchen and bathroom within the constraints of the existing building’s footprint. However, after initial discussions about the way they live and the potential of their compact site, the project quickly grew into a full transformation of the house.
What was the client’s brief?
Originally, the client only wanted to renovate the kitchen and bathroom within the constraints of the existing building’s footprint. However, after initial discussions about the way they live and the potential of their compact site, the project quickly grew into a full transformation of the house.
The rear of the house during works
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- Plenty of natural light.
- A generously proportioned kitchen.
- An additional outdoor kitchen with facilities for stir frying.
- A new bathroom that would fit a deep, Japanese bath tub designed for soaking in.
The rear of the house after works
What did you do?
What did you do?
- Retained the four rooms at the front of the house (the living room, dining room, master bedroom and study), plus the attic bedroom.
- Demolished the existing rear two-storey addition and replaced it with a new ground-floor extension built to both boundaries.
- Swapped the positions of the kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor to let the kitchen connect directly to the rear courtyard.
- Increased the footprint of the first-floor addition towards the rear to accomodate a larger bathroom and bedroom with a Juliet balcony.
- Added a new light well to the centre of the ground floor, which boosts natural light to the dining room, study and new, window-less laundry/bathroom.
- Added new windows to the existing dining room and first-floor study to open up a vista to the treetops.
The kitchen before works
How does the new work address the problems identified above?
How does the new work address the problems identified above?
- The constraints of the narrow block have been alleviated by the tall volume of the new kitchen and full-height sliding doors that connect the kitchen with the courtyard.
- New granite flooring in the kitchen continues through to the courtyard to enable indoor-outdoor living.
- The light well provides much-needed natural light and ventilation to the existing dining room and study, as well as borrowed light to the new, windowless ground-floor bathroom /laundry.
- A large skylight in the new first-floor bathroom fills the small room with natural light, providing a link to the outdoors and making it feel more spacious.
- Soft, natural materials and finishes were chosen to give this home on a busy road a sense of quiet and calm.
View into the kitchen after works
What was the budget?
Around $400,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
On the joinery and the new aluminium windows and doors.
What was the budget?
Around $400,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
On the joinery and the new aluminium windows and doors.
Tell us how you maximised space in this small kitchen
The kitchen was increased in width by building to both side boundaries. This allowed us to locate a narrow, but usable, island bench in the centre of the room.
The sink and cooktop are offset so two people can comfortably use the kitchen at the same time. The location of the sink also apportions space for bench seating at one end of the island.
Cupboards to the ceiling and full-height glazing to the rear take advantage of the generous height of the room.
Triple-stacking, sliding doors were selected for their flexibility: the doors can be opened from both sides, stacked to either side or stacked in the middle. Therefore, when someone is using the kitchen, the courtyard is still accessible from the other side of the island bench.
The kitchen was increased in width by building to both side boundaries. This allowed us to locate a narrow, but usable, island bench in the centre of the room.
The sink and cooktop are offset so two people can comfortably use the kitchen at the same time. The location of the sink also apportions space for bench seating at one end of the island.
Cupboards to the ceiling and full-height glazing to the rear take advantage of the generous height of the room.
Triple-stacking, sliding doors were selected for their flexibility: the doors can be opened from both sides, stacked to either side or stacked in the middle. Therefore, when someone is using the kitchen, the courtyard is still accessible from the other side of the island bench.
How does the new addition sit beside the original home?
The new extension is deliberately contemporary in form and detail to contrast with the original house. But it is complementary regarding the selection of materials, colours and finishes.
A considered palette of robust, naturals material and different shades of green visually connect the interiors with the glimpses of greenery outside.
The new extension is deliberately contemporary in form and detail to contrast with the original house. But it is complementary regarding the selection of materials, colours and finishes.
A considered palette of robust, naturals material and different shades of green visually connect the interiors with the glimpses of greenery outside.
What original Victorian features did you retain?
- All three original fireplaces were retained and repainted in a new colour scheme to accentuate their detail and features.
- The two existing staircases were also retained and repainted. In order to reduce the risk of slipping on the steep and narrow staircase, the existing carpet was removed and replaced with a sisal runner to add traction.
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
Behind the existing terrace, a gentle step down into the new kitchen creates an important connection to the ground so the new extension is level with the rear courtyard.
A new light well separates the extension from the original house. It is an important feature to provide access to light and ventilation to both the old and new parts of the house.
Behind the existing terrace, a gentle step down into the new kitchen creates an important connection to the ground so the new extension is level with the rear courtyard.
A new light well separates the extension from the original house. It is an important feature to provide access to light and ventilation to both the old and new parts of the house.
The laundry in the renovated ground-floor bathroom/laundry
Tell us about the new ground-floor bathroom
A full-height glass door to the ground-floor bathroom/laundry allows the windowless room to borrow daylight from the new light well. This compact space was designed to be a multipurpose room with a variety of storage options to improve its functionality, including tall storage, bench space, an open shelf, hanging rail and cupboards.
Rather than hiding the laundry within a cupboard, the laundry tub has a recessed mirrored cabinet above it so it can double as a bathroom vanity.
Tell us about the new ground-floor bathroom
A full-height glass door to the ground-floor bathroom/laundry allows the windowless room to borrow daylight from the new light well. This compact space was designed to be a multipurpose room with a variety of storage options to improve its functionality, including tall storage, bench space, an open shelf, hanging rail and cupboards.
Rather than hiding the laundry within a cupboard, the laundry tub has a recessed mirrored cabinet above it so it can double as a bathroom vanity.
What challenges did you have to work around?
Designing for a tightly enclosed site raised the creative challenges of balancing overlooking issues with access to natural light, as well as creating a feeling of spaciousness and tranquillity in an urban house on a busy road.
Designing for a tightly enclosed site raised the creative challenges of balancing overlooking issues with access to natural light, as well as creating a feeling of spaciousness and tranquillity in an urban house on a busy road.
A new, concrete barbecue bench provides outdoor cooking facilities…
What did you do in the outside rear courtyard?
We repaved it with granite floor tiles to match the kitchen, and added a new, cantilevered concrete barbecue bench that functions as the outdoor kitchen.
What did you do in the outside rear courtyard?
We repaved it with granite floor tiles to match the kitchen, and added a new, cantilevered concrete barbecue bench that functions as the outdoor kitchen.
…including an element for stir frying food
Why do you think this extension works so well?
The project is unique as it demonstrates how a slender urban block can be utilised to create a comfortable three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that doesn’t need to compromise on light or its connection with nature.
The house is small in footprint but embraces its challenging location and finds harmony between utility and its place within the heritage context.
The contemporary addition is nestled in the dense urban fabric and has become a sanctuary that manages to feel both open and private.
Why do you think this extension works so well?
The project is unique as it demonstrates how a slender urban block can be utilised to create a comfortable three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that doesn’t need to compromise on light or its connection with nature.
The house is small in footprint but embraces its challenging location and finds harmony between utility and its place within the heritage context.
The contemporary addition is nestled in the dense urban fabric and has become a sanctuary that manages to feel both open and private.
What are the key features?
- The new kitchen design and its connection to the rear courtyard, which maximises the usable space on this small site.
- The light well, which improves access to light and ventilation to both the old and new parts of the house.
- The large skylight in the first-floor bathroom, which fills the room with natural light and provides views outside.
- A multipurpose laundry and a curtained wardrobe are examples of solutions for a compact site.
- A new colour scheme that accentuates the details and features of the original house.
The original first-floor bathroom
The first-floor bathroom after works
The new Japanese-style bathtub is shorter and deeper than a standard tub, making it ideal for a small bathroom such as this one
The second bedroom in the new rear extension
Why did you use curtains on the new wardrobe rather than doors?
Having the curtain span wall-to-wall (across both the wardrobe and exterior door) is a versatile and cost-effective solution that adds texture and softness to the bedroom. It also controls light, boosts privacy and conceals the wardrobe without the need for a separate cupboard door.
Why did you use curtains on the new wardrobe rather than doors?
Having the curtain span wall-to-wall (across both the wardrobe and exterior door) is a versatile and cost-effective solution that adds texture and softness to the bedroom. It also controls light, boosts privacy and conceals the wardrobe without the need for a separate cupboard door.
Interior materials palette
- Skheme Shuk tiles to the kitchen splashback.
- Essastone White Concrete engineered stone kitchen benchstop.
- Elton Group Eveneer Milkwood timber veneer to the kitchen, bathroom and laundry joinery.
- Castella Fine Architectural Hardware Ledge Matt White handles to the laundry.
- Di Lorenzo Tiles unglazed white square tiles to the bathroom and laundry floors.
- Surface Gallery Matt White non-rectified ceramic tiles to the bathroom and laundry walls.
- Surface Gallery Ocean Grey honed-granite floor tiles to the kitchen.
- Cavalier Bremworth Samurai wool carpet to the whole first floor.
Key fittings and fixtures
- Orion Aluminium Vantage external door frames and window frames.
- Shear Glass and Aluminium Sapphire Aluminium laundry door and bathroom shower screen.
- The Japanese Bath Company bath tub.
- Astra Walker tapware to the first-floor bathroom.
- Phoenix Tapware laundry tapware.
- Franke kitchen sink and tap.
- Beefeater barbecue.
- Kolong Interiors curtains.
- HG Furniture Solutions Juliet bone-china pendant in the kitchen.
Exterior materials palette
- Surface Gallery Ocean Grey Granite Flamed Courtyard stone floor tiles.
- Concrete Studio floating barbecue benchtop.
- Scyon Walls Axon external wall cladding.
- Renotech Building custom-made painted timber privacy screens.
Paint colours
- Dulux Whisper White to the internal walls, fireplaces and timber trims.
- Dulux Ceiling White to the internal ceilings.
- Dulux Herbalist to the master-bedroom walls.
- Dulux Black Caviar to the staircase.
- Murobond Cement Paint Rope 25 percent to the courtyard walls.
- Dulux Stowe White to the external wall cladding and privacy screens.
- Dulux Traditional Naval Grey to the facade.
- Dulux Traditional Brewster Green to the front door.
- Dulux Traditional Lead Colour to the front gate.
- Dulux Traditional Lime White to the front window frames and shutters.
Your turn
Are you as impressed with this clever renovation and extension as we are? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Eager to see more fantastic renovations? Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week, Up And Out: A Spectacular and Spacious Makeover for a Sydney Home
Are you as impressed with this clever renovation and extension as we are? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Eager to see more fantastic renovations? Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week, Up And Out: A Spectacular and Spacious Makeover for a Sydney Home
Related Stories
Popular Houzz Series
A Dated Country Home in a Kiwifruit Orchard Made Modern
When their grown-up sons moved out, these NZ homeowners gave their much-loved country home a chic, modern makeover
Full Story
Renovating
An Inspired Solution for a Dark & Disjointed Californian Bungalow
See how an architect opened up a light-starved, closed-in Melbourne home, and connected it with the neighbouring park
Full Story
Popular Houzz Series
Before & After: A Leaky, Falling-Down Victorian Terrace Reborn
See how a small Melbourne terrace, untouched for over 100 years, was remade into a functional home for a modern family
Full Story
Before & After
Before & After: From 'White Box' to Luxe, Layered Apartment
Quiet luxury was the goal for the redesign of this Sydney waterfront apartment – see how the designer achieved it
Full Story
Popular Houzz Series
A Sweet Balmain Cottage Sure to Capture Your Heart
With an extension underway, this cottage was ready for a new decorative scheme that would bring old and new together
Full Story
Before & After
Before & After: A Cheap & Cheerful Makeover of a 1980s Caravan
Armed with an AU$1500 budget, a Melbourne couple rolled up their sleeves and transformed a caravan in just three months
Full Story
Projects Born on Houzz
Before & After: A Light-Drenched Home in the Heart of Coogee
This breezy family home in one of Sydney's beachside suburbs is the essence of relaxed Australian coastal style
Full Story
Interior Design
A Grand Federation Home Comes of Age for a Busy Young Family
See how a revamped layout, custom joinery and luxe touches transformed a dated heritage home in Sydney
Full Story
Architecture
From Tired 100-Year-Old Beach Cottage to Lush, Private Oasis
Encircled by beautiful gardens, this renovated weatherboard cottage in Sydney is all about indoor-outdoor connection
Full Story
Bathroom Renovations
Before & After: A Clunky & Dated Victorian Terrace Reborn
Rising damp, sagging floors and a dysfunctional layout were just some of the challenges this tired terrace offered up
Full Story
Where is the fridge located? Next to the stove?
vallidevi1 Sam Young The updated facade is pictured above the old. It looks as though they had the large tree removed & council planted a new tree on the kerb. Apart from that the ugly street sign-post is now in direct line of the house. I would have personally moved it back on the pole myself or to the next house over with a bit of DIY lol
Love the curtain over the window and closet, I imagine it would make the room feel larger compared to a door which would break up the line.