Houzz Tours
Before & After
Houzz Tour: A Cottage Extended Up and Out in an Unusual Fashion
A mysterious addition at the front and gabled roofs at the rear define this Federation home's modern reinvention
Leo and Christine loved Basser House, a project by Mihaly Slocombe that they spotted on Houzz. So, when they were were able to purchase, then renovate, their dream home they approached this forward-thinking firm of architects to work its magic. The couple’s dream was to update and expand their Edwardian home (with a uniquely generous backyard) into a base that catered equally to their lifestyle as a family with three teenagers, and their individual need for space and tranquillity.
The street-facing front of the new addition is visually joined to the original Edwardian home by way of a single window connecting old and new. The house presents a more blank facade to the street to protect the privacy of the family, who were much more passionate about engaging with the back garden.
“Our client discovered the property decades ago, during long walks around their neighbourhood, promising themselves that they would buy it should the opportunity ever arise,” says Warwick Mihaly, principal at Mihaly Slocombe.
“Many years later the opportunity did arise, and Leo and Christine made the leap. Not long after, they commissioned us to update the home for their family of five. They asked us to replace the poky rear end of the house, shabbily renovated in the 1980s, with a generous extension that matched the scale of the original home and its voluminous garden.”
Thinking of renovating? Find an architect near you on Houzz to make it happen
“Our client discovered the property decades ago, during long walks around their neighbourhood, promising themselves that they would buy it should the opportunity ever arise,” says Warwick Mihaly, principal at Mihaly Slocombe.
“Many years later the opportunity did arise, and Leo and Christine made the leap. Not long after, they commissioned us to update the home for their family of five. They asked us to replace the poky rear end of the house, shabbily renovated in the 1980s, with a generous extension that matched the scale of the original home and its voluminous garden.”
Thinking of renovating? Find an architect near you on Houzz to make it happen
The rear of the house before works
The rear of the property after works. The area on the left is the new addition; on the right is the upwards and outwards extension of the original home.
The couple’s brief to the architects included the following:
The couple’s brief to the architects included the following:
- Increase the connection between inside and outside.
- Retain as much of the back garden as possible, with outdoor areas for entertaining and play.
- Create a warm home with a generous and practical kitchen.
- Include spaces for family time and alone time.
- Allow room to easily entertain friends and extended family.
- Retain heritage qualities and street presence of the house.
- Design a flexible home that would grow as their family grows.
“Our main challenge was to design a flexible house for our client’s growing family. Young children soon to move into high school, working from home, entertaining of family and friends all needed to be balanced,” says Mihaly.
The house before works. The land where the smaller extension is now situated was originally a shed and a dumping ground for the tools and equipment of these enthusiastic gardeners.
As such, this project required the demolition of the 1980s extension, then the addition of a two-storey extension, with living spaces downstairs and a new master bedroom suite upstairs. It also included a generous deck and outdoor living spaces facing onto the back garden.
As such, this project required the demolition of the 1980s extension, then the addition of a two-storey extension, with living spaces downstairs and a new master bedroom suite upstairs. It also included a generous deck and outdoor living spaces facing onto the back garden.
After a year-long build, the house took its name from the relationship between the two parts of the addition.
“The first part, located directly behind the original house, matches and extends the roof form of the original out over the living room, first-floor master bedroom suite and outdoor decks,” says Mihaly.
“The smaller extension to the east (left in this image), duplicates the pitch of this grand roof form at a smaller, more intimate scale over the dining, kitchen and laundry areas.”
The battened timber section acts as a solar shading device, protecting the windows both upstairs and downstairs from unwanted summer sun. The kitchen deck didn’t require this treatment as the extended roof over this space is an appropriate depth to provide solar shading.
“The first part, located directly behind the original house, matches and extends the roof form of the original out over the living room, first-floor master bedroom suite and outdoor decks,” says Mihaly.
“The smaller extension to the east (left in this image), duplicates the pitch of this grand roof form at a smaller, more intimate scale over the dining, kitchen and laundry areas.”
The battened timber section acts as a solar shading device, protecting the windows both upstairs and downstairs from unwanted summer sun. The kitchen deck didn’t require this treatment as the extended roof over this space is an appropriate depth to provide solar shading.
Blackbutt flooring features throughout the home. Window frames are in Victorian ash.
The house is organised around three zones: the formal living and kids’ bedrooms off the hallway in the original house; the open-plan
living out the back; and the parents’ retreat upstairs.
The house is organised around three zones: the formal living and kids’ bedrooms off the hallway in the original house; the open-plan
living out the back; and the parents’ retreat upstairs.
The ground-floor plan
In the open-plan living area, a 2400-millimetre-high datum adds a human scale to the raked ceilings.
This gathering space is connected to the garden via a bank of bi-fold windows, and a built-in credenza that allows plentiful storage. “With three boys, they needed space for sporting equipment, school bags, toys and books. Plus their own artwork and equipment to look after the garden space,” says Mihaly.
The rear of the house before works.
The kitchen island is positioned to entice Leo and Christine’s energetic teenage boys into the space with the aroma of cooking. Touches such as a radiator heater beneath the island bench provide nurturing moments, like warm knees at breakfast time.
The new kitchen area includes a direct connection to the new swimming pool. Benchtops in Glacier White: Corian.
“We developed a palette to include warm timber inside and out, using Australian hardwoods such as blackbutt and Victorian ash for floors, window frames, screens and joinery,” says Mihaly.
“There’s a lot of glass in the house, with openings to the north and south to permit natural ventilation. High level, electrically operated louvres in each of the peaks allow hot air to vent in summer. And then in winter, these windows are shut down to keep the warmth from the hydronic heating system locked inside.”
“We developed a palette to include warm timber inside and out, using Australian hardwoods such as blackbutt and Victorian ash for floors, window frames, screens and joinery,” says Mihaly.
“There’s a lot of glass in the house, with openings to the north and south to permit natural ventilation. High level, electrically operated louvres in each of the peaks allow hot air to vent in summer. And then in winter, these windows are shut down to keep the warmth from the hydronic heating system locked inside.”
The laundry is tucked away behind the kitchen. This nook is adjacent to the new back door, so is used as a storage spot for bags and shoes.
The guest room, which doubles as a study.
“This home is a place for our client to spend time as a family but also retreat to have quiet time alone and relax in the house while enjoying the gorgeous garden views,” says Mihaly.
“This home is a place for our client to spend time as a family but also retreat to have quiet time alone and relax in the house while enjoying the gorgeous garden views,” says Mihaly.
The guest room’s ensuite
The powder room
Colour is deployed judiciously throughout the home, from the golden splashback tiles in the kitchen to a variety of dusty rose and blue tones in each of the bathrooms, as well as pink carpet on the stairs and in the master bedroom retreat.
“This was an area where we pushed the comfort levels of our client, who would not otherwise have been so determined to see splashes of colour everywhere,” says Mihaly.
“The colour creates individual personality for each space, and a fun character for the whole house.”
Colour is deployed judiciously throughout the home, from the golden splashback tiles in the kitchen to a variety of dusty rose and blue tones in each of the bathrooms, as well as pink carpet on the stairs and in the master bedroom retreat.
“This was an area where we pushed the comfort levels of our client, who would not otherwise have been so determined to see splashes of colour everywhere,” says Mihaly.
“The colour creates individual personality for each space, and a fun character for the whole house.”
A seven-metre-high void slices through the middle of the house, marking the transition between these zones and acting as a living relic of the home’s long history.
The staircase in the extension of the original home leads up to the parents’ retreat. It begins with an 800-millimetre-wide bottom tread and expands up to 1,000 millimetres in width for the top tread. “We did this deliberately to create drama in the void that connects new to old, which then widens to accommodate a more generous powder room tucked under the upper run [see previous image],” says Mihaly.
The staircase in the extension of the original home leads up to the parents’ retreat. It begins with an 800-millimetre-wide bottom tread and expands up to 1,000 millimetres in width for the top tread. “We did this deliberately to create drama in the void that connects new to old, which then widens to accommodate a more generous powder room tucked under the upper run [see previous image],” says Mihaly.
The first-floor plan
A quiet corner in the parents’ retreat. Goat hair carpet: Tretford
“The connection to nature was essential; it was part of the initial conversations with our client,” says Mihaly.
“They love looking at, being in and working on the back garden. They wanted to retain as much of it as possible for their growing boys. This was particularly inspired by the life stage of our clients, who were returning to Melbourne from an extended period of apartment living in Singapore. They wanted to have a yard where they could house a dog, chickens, and even a sheep.
“We facilitated this goal through the expanse of north-facing glass, downstairs for access and upstairs for prospect. The deck also plays an important part in connecting to nature, providing a threshold space that is neither indoors nor outdoors, perfect to enjoy in shoulder seasons or when the summer sun is belting down at high noon.”
“The connection to nature was essential; it was part of the initial conversations with our client,” says Mihaly.
“They love looking at, being in and working on the back garden. They wanted to retain as much of it as possible for their growing boys. This was particularly inspired by the life stage of our clients, who were returning to Melbourne from an extended period of apartment living in Singapore. They wanted to have a yard where they could house a dog, chickens, and even a sheep.
“We facilitated this goal through the expanse of north-facing glass, downstairs for access and upstairs for prospect. The deck also plays an important part in connecting to nature, providing a threshold space that is neither indoors nor outdoors, perfect to enjoy in shoulder seasons or when the summer sun is belting down at high noon.”
The house also has strong sustainability credentials.
“This is achieved via the selection of long-lasting, low-maintenance and predominantly Australian-made materials to the extension, together with the sensitive preservation of the heritage fabric of the house.
“Passive thermal design is liberally deployed, including northern orientation, high-performance insulation, high-performance glazing, timber window frames, eaves, screening and ample opportunities for natural ventilation,” says Mihaly.
This is augmented by 10,000 litres of rainwater tanks, a 3kW solar panel array, low-energy lights, and water-efficient sanitary fixtures.
“This is achieved via the selection of long-lasting, low-maintenance and predominantly Australian-made materials to the extension, together with the sensitive preservation of the heritage fabric of the house.
“Passive thermal design is liberally deployed, including northern orientation, high-performance insulation, high-performance glazing, timber window frames, eaves, screening and ample opportunities for natural ventilation,” says Mihaly.
This is augmented by 10,000 litres of rainwater tanks, a 3kW solar panel array, low-energy lights, and water-efficient sanitary fixtures.
The bathroom in the parents’ retreat
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this expanded home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to be further inspired? Check out this UK Houzz Tour: A Dated Victorian House Revamped for Modern Living
What’s your favourite feature in this expanded home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to be further inspired? Check out this UK Houzz Tour: A Dated Victorian House Revamped for Modern Living
Styling by Bea and Co Styling
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three teenage sons
Location: Kensington, Victoria
Year of build: 2019
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms
Size of house: 376 square metres
How many levels: Two
Design duration: March 2016 to July 2018
Build duration: August 2018 to August 2019
Architecture and interior design: Mihaly Slocombe
Builder: Melbourne Homes of Distinction
This home, now known as Twin Peaks House (not a reference to David Lynch’s 1990s cult television show, but more on those roofline peaks later) begun life in 1913 as a home for a wealthy family of butchers, back when the surrounding landscape was pasture as far as the eye could see.
Today, 108 years later, it sits, undeniably updated yet respectfully reflective of its past, in an urban landscape a few kilometres northeast of Melbourne’s CBD.
Its rebirth was all down to serendipity… and the urbanite habit of regular neighbourhood walks.