Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Historic Home Gets a Luxe Face Lift Plus a Basketball Court
Fun, freedom, sport and the future motivated this family-oriented couple to transform their Melbourne home into something truly amazing
Although they loved the Federation Arts and Crafts home they’d bought when their children were younger, the family’s changing needs meant it was time for an update and an extension. With the help of Canny Design, this couple focused on creating a home that would enhance its existing period features, while giving the family – and their guests – room to move.
With such a large project to design, the experts at Canny Design appreciated that the clients were so clear in their vision. The house needed to be a home, not just a large house. And given that every room added needed to be oversized to match the size of the original rooms, the architects and designers needed to be careful not to create something that felt like a stark mansion rather than a family home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, with their four active, sports-loving children (8 to 13)
Location: Kew, Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 5 bedrooms, master suite, guest retreat, 5 bathrooms, study, play area, indoor basketball court, gym and cinema
What’s interesting: The new kids’ playroom has a window overlooking the underground basketball court, so it functions not only as a children’s haven, but also as a spectator area for adults and visiting families during home sporting events!
With such a large project to design, the experts at Canny Design appreciated that the clients were so clear in their vision. The house needed to be a home, not just a large house. And given that every room added needed to be oversized to match the size of the original rooms, the architects and designers needed to be careful not to create something that felt like a stark mansion rather than a family home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, with their four active, sports-loving children (8 to 13)
Location: Kew, Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 5 bedrooms, master suite, guest retreat, 5 bathrooms, study, play area, indoor basketball court, gym and cinema
What’s interesting: The new kids’ playroom has a window overlooking the underground basketball court, so it functions not only as a children’s haven, but also as a spectator area for adults and visiting families during home sporting events!
To begin, the architects sliced the home in half. The three front rooms were preserved in their original heritage style, while the remaining back rooms were reconfigured and extended to create new space, including a four-desk study, master suite, kitchen, butler’s pantry (complete with baking station), meals and living area, a laundry and two powder rooms.
The architects also designed a massive underground component to house a cellar, five-car garage, gym, guest retreat, kids’ play area, hallway entrance, cinema room, bathroom and an indoor basketball court.
A second storey was added for four bedrooms, two bathrooms and another children’s retreat. One of the children’s bedrooms also made use of roof space for a secret cubby and storeroom – a dream come true for this little girl.
The master bedroom area is one of the client’s favourite new spaces. The existing rooms were reconfigured to incorporate a luxurious master ensuite and two magnificent walk-in robes. The laundry and powder room were part of the existing footprint, but the rooms were modernised and rejigged to meet the clients’ needs.
The architects also designed a massive underground component to house a cellar, five-car garage, gym, guest retreat, kids’ play area, hallway entrance, cinema room, bathroom and an indoor basketball court.
A second storey was added for four bedrooms, two bathrooms and another children’s retreat. One of the children’s bedrooms also made use of roof space for a secret cubby and storeroom – a dream come true for this little girl.
The master bedroom area is one of the client’s favourite new spaces. The existing rooms were reconfigured to incorporate a luxurious master ensuite and two magnificent walk-in robes. The laundry and powder room were part of the existing footprint, but the rooms were modernised and rejigged to meet the clients’ needs.
With a brief to add space that could carry the family through until the children were adults, the architects were cautious not to create a home that felt overly grand or cavernous. “It doesn’t feel too big upon first entry – it slowly reveals its elegant grandeur, without being pretentious,” says Canny Design head architect Mary-Ann Woff.
The stairs added to the existing part of the home were designed to resemble the original period features.
The stairs added to the existing part of the home were designed to resemble the original period features.
The home needed to be able to evolve with the family – the owners needed to have a house that would see them through the teenage years into a family of six adults.
You can only imagine all the family celebrations and announcements that will take place in this formal dining room over the years.
You can only imagine all the family celebrations and announcements that will take place in this formal dining room over the years.
Beautiful crystal chandeliers create a feeling of opulence and respect the home’s heritage.
The streamlined kitchen opens to the backyard and an open-plan dining/living area capable of entertaining a crowd. The expansive windows and sliding doors welcome in the sun, while the kitchen bench extends to a covered outdoor kitchen.
Walls: Dulux half-strength ‘Grand Piano’; Benchtop: Stone Italiana ‘Virgo’
Walls: Dulux half-strength ‘Grand Piano’; Benchtop: Stone Italiana ‘Virgo’
The new kitchen/meals area and informal family room is one of the best outcomes of the project for Canny Design. “The clients can soak up the outdoor atmosphere and make the most of the northerly sun that streams through the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors,” Woff says. “The various views to the pool – the spa, lap pool, kids’ play pool and views to the alfresco areas make this room a real Australian-living feature.”
To tie the new space in with the old, oak timber parquetry flooring fit the bill.
A tennis court sits over the top of the new basement, along with another alfresco area enhanced with extensive landscaping.
The clients wanted to create a destination for their children to bring their friends home to, and for it to be easy to have them there.
The parents ‘own’ the front of the house and share the open-plan back area, while the children lay claim to the basement and much of the backyard.
Landscaping: Simon McCurdy
The clients wanted to create a destination for their children to bring their friends home to, and for it to be easy to have them there.
The parents ‘own’ the front of the house and share the open-plan back area, while the children lay claim to the basement and much of the backyard.
Landscaping: Simon McCurdy
Entertainment potential played a key role in the final design. With four sporty children to accommodate, the brief was not just for the home to be able to handle small gatherings, but also large family-oriented functions and even entire sports teams – all year round. “That drove the design of the alfresco area and the flow into the kitchen/meals,” Woff explains.
In the outdoor area, an L-shaped swimming pool incorporates a lap pool, spa, water feature and children’s pool – the pool is fully tiled and each of the three swimming areas can be heated via remote iPad/iPhone technology.
The clients wanted three bodies of water to allow them to be heated more quickly, but also have them integrated when needed.
The integrated spa is popular with the adults. The water feature in the spa cascading down into the pool is also a real hit with the kids and their friends.
It’s not all about the kids, though. According to Canny Design interior designer Janine Carter, using natural stone and porcelain in the ensuite bathroom served to create a serene atmosphere. Needless to say, the clients are thrilled and say the ensuite reminds them of being at an exotic day spa.
Morning light spills in through the existing bay window – the perfect spot for the freestanding bath. The bathroom also has its own fireplace and walk-in shower. To show off the beautiful high ceilings, Carter added a drop-pendant crystal chandelier.
Bath: Apaiser; Tapware: Roger Seller
Morning light spills in through the existing bay window – the perfect spot for the freestanding bath. The bathroom also has its own fireplace and walk-in shower. To show off the beautiful high ceilings, Carter added a drop-pendant crystal chandelier.
Bath: Apaiser; Tapware: Roger Seller
The covered alfresco area, complete with kitchen, barbecue and an additional area for casual seating, provides numerous spots for family and entertaining. Large stacking sliding glass doors open up to reveal these spaces, creating seamless integration between inside and out.
Paving: Shorestone pavers in reconstituted limestone from Limestone Australia, size 1000 x 500mm
Paving: Shorestone pavers in reconstituted limestone from Limestone Australia, size 1000 x 500mm
With four children’s washing to do, a lot of time is spent in this heavenly laundry, and the task is now far more pleasant. The clients love the island bench and the pull-out shelves under the machines.
The two walk-in robes and master suite were custom designed and beautifully finished, creating a parents’ retreat both peaceful and opulent. “These rooms are decadent retreats with modern features, ample storage, lots of space and luxurious finishes,” says Woff.
The clients were understandably impressed and say the master suite is probably their favourite room design as it is the only space where the old (ceiling and fireplace) is mixed with the new (everything else is modern). They love that from the moment you walk through the massive door you feel like you are in another world. They absolutely adore their dressing room, ensuite and bedroom, saying its very elegant, tranquil and luxurious.
Flooring: 100 per cent wool carpet from Victoria Carpets in Platinum Plush ‘Spring Rain’
The clients were understandably impressed and say the master suite is probably their favourite room design as it is the only space where the old (ceiling and fireplace) is mixed with the new (everything else is modern). They love that from the moment you walk through the massive door you feel like you are in another world. They absolutely adore their dressing room, ensuite and bedroom, saying its very elegant, tranquil and luxurious.
Flooring: 100 per cent wool carpet from Victoria Carpets in Platinum Plush ‘Spring Rain’
While the home’s heritage has been honoured in many areas of the house, modern elements add elegance and style. This is one of the two new powder rooms.
Wash plane: Caesarstone in ‘Snow’
Wash plane: Caesarstone in ‘Snow’
The underground home cinema is one of the most comfortable and luxurious theatre rooms Canny has ever designed. It has 11 leather recliners (with drink holders and compartments for blankets) that are already well used.
According to the clients, the basement is probably the area that fits the design objective the best in terms of having kids and their friends entertained in a safe and fun environment.
According to the clients, the basement is probably the area that fits the design objective the best in terms of having kids and their friends entertained in a safe and fun environment.
The extensive excavation needed to create the six-metre-high ceilings for the underground basketball court was a costly exercise and the architect’s biggest challenge.
In redesigning this already beautiful home – located in one of the area’s most sought after streets – Canny Design faced a challenge: maintaining the look and feel of the home’s front rooms and facade while integrating contemporary elements with the existing heritage features.