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Renovating
Rewriting History: A Victorian Terrace Gets a New Lease on Life
A Sydney terrace that'd seen better days is returned to its former glory with a sensitive restoration and extension
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, Maria Roussos, principal at interior design firm Schemes & Spaces, shares the journey of restoring and extending a tired terrace in Sydney, NSW, to suit contemporary family living.
The new extension
Gained
Gained
- A contemporary extension housing a new kitchen/living/casual dining area and a laundry.
- A rear guest wing containing a bedroom, ensuite, rumpus room and study area.
- A cellar, mudroom and garage located under the new guest wing.
- A rear courtyard and mineral pool.
- Conversion of the original one-bedroom unit at the back of the house into a new master bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
- A new layout for the original house, including the conversion of the original study into a new powder room.
- New wiring, plumbing, decor and carpeting in the existing parts of the house.
- Full restoration of the original ceiling and repolishing of the original timber floors.
- A new roof and paint job for the facade of the house.
The facade before works
What was the house like originally?
A two-storey Victorian terrace built around 1901 with five bedrooms, two bathrooms and two kitchens (one of which was in a one-bedroom unit at the back of the house).
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What was the house like originally?
A two-storey Victorian terrace built around 1901 with five bedrooms, two bathrooms and two kitchens (one of which was in a one-bedroom unit at the back of the house).
Thinking of renovating? Find a local interior designer on Houzz to chat about your ideas
The original floor plan
What was your brief?
What was your brief?
- Bring this historically significant home back to its original glory.
- Retain as many of the home’s original features as possible.
- Transform it into a family-friendly entertainer’s home.
- Remodel the one-bedroom unit in the 30-year-old extension and redesign it as a new master bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
- Create a new rear extension that would serve the family and visiting extended family for years to come.
The new floor plan
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- Design the new kitchen and adjoining open-plan area as a gathering point where the family could entertain and relax.
- Space to accommodate extended family.
- Indoor-outdoor entertaining space.
- Maintain and enhance the heritage value of the building.
A 3D model of the redesigned house
The kitchen before works
Daniel Taylor from building-design firm The Planhouse worked with the owners on the layout as they had a clear vision of the desired extension and how they wanted the house to wrap around the new pool and entertainer’s courtyard. Having previously lived in a unit with water views, they wanted to recreate the same water surrounds here.
Daniel Taylor from building-design firm The Planhouse worked with the owners on the layout as they had a clear vision of the desired extension and how they wanted the house to wrap around the new pool and entertainer’s courtyard. Having previously lived in a unit with water views, they wanted to recreate the same water surrounds here.
The kitchen after works
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Selected and specified the new colour schemes for inside and out, as well as fixtures, finishes and flooring.
- Designed a new kitchen, three bathrooms and a powder room.
- Liaised with the building designer, builder and trades as required.
The formal sitting room before works
Which original features did you keep?
All the plasterwork, floors, marble fireplaces, doors, front fence and facade details.
Did you keep any existing furniture?
Yes, the client’s formal dining setting, and the leather sofa and coffee table in the formal sitting room.
Which original features did you keep?
All the plasterwork, floors, marble fireplaces, doors, front fence and facade details.
Did you keep any existing furniture?
Yes, the client’s formal dining setting, and the leather sofa and coffee table in the formal sitting room.
The formal sitting room after works
What was the budget for the entire job?
$1.5 million plus.
Where did most of the budget go?
Building the new extension with the pool and courtyard, rewiring and restoring the original house, high-end finishes and appliances.
What was the budget for the entire job?
$1.5 million plus.
Where did most of the budget go?
Building the new extension with the pool and courtyard, rewiring and restoring the original house, high-end finishes and appliances.
The dining room before works
The dining room after works
Tell us about the artwork
The owner is an art lover and already owned most of these works before the renovation. A few artworks were purchased specifically for this house, including the works in the formal dining room and the hallway to the rear wing, which were chosen with size and colours in mind. The neutral palette we specified allowed us to incorporate bold works and create focal points in each space.
Tell us about the artwork
The owner is an art lover and already owned most of these works before the renovation. A few artworks were purchased specifically for this house, including the works in the formal dining room and the hallway to the rear wing, which were chosen with size and colours in mind. The neutral palette we specified allowed us to incorporate bold works and create focal points in each space.
The facade after works
How much work did you do to the front of the house?
The facade was in great condition when we came onboard and just required minor repairs and repainting.
The front garden was completely redone, including moving some pipes, planting a new gardenia hedge and a black tulip-magnolia tree (for its white and deep-pink flowers that would pick up on the interior colour scheme as you walked inside).
How much work did you do to the front of the house?
The facade was in great condition when we came onboard and just required minor repairs and repainting.
The front garden was completely redone, including moving some pipes, planting a new gardenia hedge and a black tulip-magnolia tree (for its white and deep-pink flowers that would pick up on the interior colour scheme as you walked inside).
What problems or limitations did this project address?
The house had good bones but a full restoration was needed. The redesign also addressed close proximity to neighbouring units at the rear.
Were there any heritage constraints?
The house is a locally listed heritage item and is located within a heritage conservation area.
The house had good bones but a full restoration was needed. The redesign also addressed close proximity to neighbouring units at the rear.
Were there any heritage constraints?
The house is a locally listed heritage item and is located within a heritage conservation area.
The living room in the new extension
How did you marry old and new parts of this house?
Here, the typical transition area of a Victorian terrace was used to house a butler’s pantry, a large fridge and a powder room. You walk past these and step into a light and spacious contemporary addition.
To create a smooth transition between the old and new parts of the house, we carried the same colour scheme from the exterior and original interior through to the new extension.
How did you marry old and new parts of this house?
Here, the typical transition area of a Victorian terrace was used to house a butler’s pantry, a large fridge and a powder room. You walk past these and step into a light and spacious contemporary addition.
To create a smooth transition between the old and new parts of the house, we carried the same colour scheme from the exterior and original interior through to the new extension.
The original rear extension
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
The original extension at the rear of the house was not sympathetic to the old Victorian terrace, which was the catalyst for replacing it.
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
The original extension at the rear of the house was not sympathetic to the old Victorian terrace, which was the catalyst for replacing it.
The new rear extension
Having the house and the new extension wrap around the pool creates privacy for the family – the pool, courtyard and side view of the house have minimal intrusion from neighbouring units.
The new extension is also north-facing and draws in light all day.
Having the house and the new extension wrap around the pool creates privacy for the family – the pool, courtyard and side view of the house have minimal intrusion from neighbouring units.
The new extension is also north-facing and draws in light all day.
The new mudroom is located at the entrance to the home from the garage
Why do you think this house works so well?
Why do you think this house works so well?
- It offers communal as well as separate living and dining spaces.
- Both immediate and extended family living are catered for.
- The renovation and extension respect the heritage value of the building and the area, but the house functions practically as a modern family home.
The main upstairs bathroom in the original part of the house
The new walk-in wardrobe in the master suite
Tell us about the walk-in wardrobe
The client requested a masculine touch to the master bedroom. The dark-timber laminate works with this brief and creates a luxe feel.
Tell us about the walk-in wardrobe
The client requested a masculine touch to the master bedroom. The dark-timber laminate works with this brief and creates a luxe feel.
What challenges did you have to work around?
We spent months planning this project with the client and building designer, including choosing all the fittings by the time we had DA approval. This pre-planning mitigated any major hurdles.
We spent months planning this project with the client and building designer, including choosing all the fittings by the time we had DA approval. This pre-planning mitigated any major hurdles.
The new powder room
We love the textured tiles in the powder room – tell us about them
The chevron porcelain tiles on the vanity wall of the powder room are part of the same range as the floor tiles in the new extension, which creates a sense of cohesion between the two.
We love the textured tiles in the powder room – tell us about them
The chevron porcelain tiles on the vanity wall of the powder room are part of the same range as the floor tiles in the new extension, which creates a sense of cohesion between the two.
What condition were the original features in?
The original Victorian features in the formal living and dining rooms were in great condition. The cornices, ceiling roses and corbels just needed sanding and repainting.
The bedrooms upstairs had damaged ceilings and timber window frames, and bad wiring.
The original Victorian features in the formal living and dining rooms were in great condition. The cornices, ceiling roses and corbels just needed sanding and repainting.
The bedrooms upstairs had damaged ceilings and timber window frames, and bad wiring.
The study area in the new rear guest wing
Key features
Key features
- Original Victorian features – marble fireplaces, a timber staircase, high ceilings and ornate ceilings.
- Open-plan kitchen/dining/living space tailored to family living.
- Mineral pool and courtyard.
- Luxurious master suite.
- Cellar.
Interior materials palette
- Fenix NTM in Nero Ingo to upper kitchen cabinetry.
- New Age Veneers Navurban in Yarra Walnut veneer to the lower kitchen cabinetry.
- Gunnersen Hi-Macs solid surface in Arctic White to kitchen benchtop.
- Dekton in Domoos quartz surface to kitchen splashback.
- Surface Gallery Cementa 900 x 900-millimetre porcelain tiles to kitchen/living/dining areas in the new extension.
- Surface Gallery Cementa 900 x 300-millimetre feature porcelain tiles to the power-room wall.
- Polytec Ravine laminate in Char Oak to walk-in wardrobe cabinetry.
The new master ensuite
Fixtures and furniture
Fixtures and furniture
- Natuzzi Italia Tempo sofa in new extension.
- Pottery Barn coffee tables in new extension.
- Gessi Just Pull Out mixer tap in matt black in kitchen.
- Gaggenau appliances.
- Sub-Zero fridge.
- Hay ‘About a Stool’ bar stools in kitchen.
- Harpers Project 150-centimetre round dining table with marble top in casual dining area.
- Fritz Hansen Grand Prix dining chairs.
- Living Edge Nelson Saucer Bubble hanging pendant.
- Astra Walker taps in all bathrooms.
- Reece Issy Z1 Ballerina vanity in Charcoal Oak with a white Corian top in the powder room.
- Reece Issy Glide vanity with oak drawer fronts and Issy Glide mirror in the main bathroom.
- Issy Glide double vanity in White in the master ensuite.
The new rear wing housing a bedroom, ensuite, rumpus and study area; below it is a garage, cellar and mudroom
Exterior materials palette
Paint colours
Exterior materials palette
- Anodised aluminium windows and doors to the new extension.
Paint colours
- Dulux Natural White to walls in the new addition.
- Dulux Lexicon Quarter to interior ceilings and trims throughout the house.
- Dulux Tranquil Retreat to formal dining and sitting rooms.
- Dulux Brume Half to hallway and stairs.
- Dulux Powered Rock to front and back exterior walls.
- Dulux Grey Pebble Quarter to exterior windows and contrasting trims.
- Dulux Stone Monument to contrasting exterior details.
- Colorbond Wallaby to gutters/fascias and wall next to the swimming pool.
Your turn
Do you love this reno and extension as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more ideas for your own renovation? Don’t miss Dreary to Dreamy: A 1960s Home Gets a Modern Coastal Makeover
Do you love this reno and extension as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more ideas for your own renovation? Don’t miss Dreary to Dreamy: A 1960s Home Gets a Modern Coastal Makeover
Answers by Maria Roussos, principal at Schemes & Spaces
Who lives here: A couple with a young child
Location: Sydney, NSW
Original size: 285 square metres
Size after works: 359 square metres
Building designer: Daniel Taylor, The Planhouse
Builder: Kostos Construction
Project manager: A Gilroy Construction
Interior designer: Maria Roussos, Schemes & Spaces
Did you use Houzz for this project?
Yes, the client and I used Houzz for inspiration and ideas. The client also used Houzz as a way to communicate with me the schemes and looks she liked.