Before & After: A Victorian Terrace Revived With Light & Space
A slender Melbourne terrace on a five-metre-wide site gets a major overhaul, ushering in a fresh chapter in its story
Georgia Madden
5 August 2021
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, Renuka Rodrigo, principal architect at RMR Architects, reveals how she used smart spatial planning and contemporary touches to transform a dark and poorly laid-out Melbourne terrace into a functional, inviting and light-filled home.
Images by Yvonne Qumi at YQ Photographic Services
Answers by Renuka Rodrigo, principal architect at RMR Architects
Who lives here: A homeowner
Location: Coburg, Victoria
Bedrooms and bathrooms: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Size of the house before works: 86 square metres
Size of the house after works: 100 square metres
Width of the block: Five metres
Budget: Less than $300,000
Architect: Renuka Rodrigo, principal architect at RMR Architects
Builder: Connane Building
Cabinet maker: Alan Salt Cabinet Maker
Answers by Renuka Rodrigo, principal architect at RMR Architects
Who lives here: A homeowner
Location: Coburg, Victoria
Bedrooms and bathrooms: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Size of the house before works: 86 square metres
Size of the house after works: 100 square metres
Width of the block: Five metres
Budget: Less than $300,000
Architect: Renuka Rodrigo, principal architect at RMR Architects
Builder: Connane Building
Cabinet maker: Alan Salt Cabinet Maker
The rear of the house before works
How did Houzz help you with this project?
We used images from Houzz to explore material and colour selections for the bathroom. The ability to visualise what was being proposed was a big plus for our client, allowing her to move forward with confidence.
Ready to renovate? Find a local architect on Houzz to help
How did Houzz help you with this project?
We used images from Houzz to explore material and colour selections for the bathroom. The ability to visualise what was being proposed was a big plus for our client, allowing her to move forward with confidence.
Ready to renovate? Find a local architect on Houzz to help
The front of the house after works
What was the house like originally?
It was one of 12 well-preserved Victorian terraces constructed in the 1890s and with a heritage overlay.
The layout included a front verandah, a hallway to one side connecting two bedrooms, and a compact open-plan living/meals/kitchen area at the rear. A bathroom and external laundry were located in a lean-to, beyond the kitchen.
What was the house like originally?
It was one of 12 well-preserved Victorian terraces constructed in the 1890s and with a heritage overlay.
The layout included a front verandah, a hallway to one side connecting two bedrooms, and a compact open-plan living/meals/kitchen area at the rear. A bathroom and external laundry were located in a lean-to, beyond the kitchen.
The floor plan before works (top) and after works (bottom)
What state was it in when you came onboard?
The property was well-maintained. However, both the bathroom and laundry were located in a poorly constructed lean-to at the back and needed upgrading. Additionally, the laundry could only be accessed from the outside.
The main living area was gloomy and cut off from the outside.
What state was it in when you came onboard?
The property was well-maintained. However, both the bathroom and laundry were located in a poorly constructed lean-to at the back and needed upgrading. Additionally, the laundry could only be accessed from the outside.
The main living area was gloomy and cut off from the outside.
The kitchen before works
What wasn’t working for the client?
The client wanted to overcome the disconnection between the living areas and the garden and was keen to have a bright, sun-filled living space.
The 1970s bathroom was poorly constructed and shared a stud wall with the neighbour. She was adamant about having privacy in her bathroom and was over hearing conversations on the other side of the wall!
An indoor laundry was also important.
What wasn’t working for the client?
The client wanted to overcome the disconnection between the living areas and the garden and was keen to have a bright, sun-filled living space.
The 1970s bathroom was poorly constructed and shared a stud wall with the neighbour. She was adamant about having privacy in her bathroom and was over hearing conversations on the other side of the wall!
An indoor laundry was also important.
The kitchen after works
What was your brief?
What was your brief?
- Demolish the rear lean-to and move the bathroom and laundry inside the house.
- Extend the footprint of the house by a maximum of two metres into the garden to create a new open-plan kitchen/meals/living area integrated with the backyard.
- Maximise the available garden.
- Integrate the living spaces with the outside and create a modern, light-filled and inviting interior.
- Incorporate double-glazed steel bi-fold doors with a well-integrated flyscreen.
- Maximise storage.
- Sustainable design.
The laundry before works
What was gained with the new works?
What was gained with the new works?
- The terrace was revamped throughout to create a contemporary, two-bedroom house with a mezzanine study in the attic, bathroom, European-style laundry and an open-plan kitchen/meals/living area that seamlessly integrated with the backyard.
- At the rear, the footprint was increased by 14 square metres. Every millimetre of available space was utilised to create a functional, open-plan kitchen/meals/living area.
- Lofty cathedral ceilings were incorporated to create a characterful, sun-filled interior.
- Large, double-glazed steel bi-fold doors were installed to open the full width of the house to the backyard, allowing for flexible entertaining in a small space.
- A flyscreen was a necessity, but it had to preserve the open, uninterrupted views into the garden. A Centor flyscreen was specified. It spans around four metres. The tracks are recessed into the floor and the housing is concealed within the wall, so the screen disappears completely when not in use.
- A new laundry and well-appointed bathroom with a separate shower and bath was positioned next to the bedrooms.
- The high ceilings were used to create a new mezzanine study space in the attic above the laundry and bathroom.
- The aluminium windows in the front bedrooms were replaced with timber windows, and both rooms were fitted with built-in wardrobes.
- The flat roof over the front verandah was removed and reinstated with a bullnose roof to reflect the original heritage architecture and enhance street appeal.
The bathroom before works
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Demolished the rear lean-to with the bathroom and laundry and gutted part of the original living area and kitchen.
- Put in a new bathroom and European-style laundry with lower ceilings next to the main bedroom, creating space for a new study in the attic above.
- Extended the footprint of the house by 14 square metres to create a lofty, light-filled kitchen/meals/living area with a cathedral ceiling.
- Installed new built-in wardrobes in both bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling storage. A custom-made ladder was incorporated for easy access.
- Incorporated double glazing, a water tank, hydronic heating, ceiling fans for summer cooling and air circulation, and solar panels for generating electricity,
- Recycled the existing timber floors.
What was the budget?
Less than $300,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
On the new living space at the rear, the new bathroom and the laundry.
Browse more images of Australian kitchens on Houzz
Less than $300,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
On the new living space at the rear, the new bathroom and the laundry.
Browse more images of Australian kitchens on Houzz
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
We wanted to keep the colour palette simple, given the compact nature of the house. The cathedral ceiling is quite sculptural and extends from the attic over the main living area. We opted for a restful, calming white to unify the walls and ceilings so natural light and shadows would create drama throughout the day.
Splashes of colour were used on the step risers (pictured below) – inspired by a rug the owner was rather fond of.
We wanted to keep the colour palette simple, given the compact nature of the house. The cathedral ceiling is quite sculptural and extends from the attic over the main living area. We opted for a restful, calming white to unify the walls and ceilings so natural light and shadows would create drama throughout the day.
Splashes of colour were used on the step risers (pictured below) – inspired by a rug the owner was rather fond of.
What challenges did you face?
Town planning approval was required for this heritage-listed property. Being a small lot, minimising overshadowing of neighbours was a key concern.
During construction, we discovered that the sub-floor had been dug out to improve ventilation. Unfortunately, the work had exposed the original bluestone footings. Thankfully, we work closely with experienced engineers and were able to develop solutions to address the issue.
Town planning approval was required for this heritage-listed property. Being a small lot, minimising overshadowing of neighbours was a key concern.
During construction, we discovered that the sub-floor had been dug out to improve ventilation. Unfortunately, the work had exposed the original bluestone footings. Thankfully, we work closely with experienced engineers and were able to develop solutions to address the issue.
What are the defining features of the house now?
- Lofty cathedral ceilings and a light-filled living space that is lovely to be in.
- A bathroom that makes clever use of all space available and offers plenty of storage.
- A beautifully crafted kitchen with a dramatic tiled splashback.
- The steel bi-fold doors and concealed flyscreen.
- Generous storage.
How important was storage in the new design?
Storage was a priority and space was minimal. Two thirds of the space under the study was used to accommodate the bathroom. The remaining third was used to create room for a vacuum cleaner, storage and a cellar.
Storage was a priority and space was minimal. Two thirds of the space under the study was used to accommodate the bathroom. The remaining third was used to create room for a vacuum cleaner, storage and a cellar.
Tell us about the utility courtyard
We used part of the original concrete path that linked the living room to the backyard to create a small courtyard to bring in natural light and ventilation to the bathroom, kitchen and second bedroom.
This south-facing space was also a logical spot to locate utility services such as the gas hot-water system, hydronic heating boiler and solar-panel inverter.
It has also become an invaluable spot for wringing out mops as well as a sheltered plant nursery.
We used part of the original concrete path that linked the living room to the backyard to create a small courtyard to bring in natural light and ventilation to the bathroom, kitchen and second bedroom.
This south-facing space was also a logical spot to locate utility services such as the gas hot-water system, hydronic heating boiler and solar-panel inverter.
It has also become an invaluable spot for wringing out mops as well as a sheltered plant nursery.
Why do you think the house works so well now?
- It has a simple and logical layout that remains true to the original Victorian terrace.
- Careful consideration was given to accommodating all the requirements of the client, including storage.
- Careful thought was given to developing construction details to address the requirements of fire-rated walls, sustainable design and clean detailing within the confines of a very compact space.
A European-style laundry is located at the end of the bathroom
Interior materials palette
Interior materials palette
- Spotted-gum flooring.
- Cater Tech Australia moulded stainless steel kitchen benchtops.
- High moisture-rated MDF cabinetry doors spray-painted in Dulux Whisper White.
- Beaumont Tiles Rubix white gloss mosaic tiles to the kitchen splashbacak.
- Bench Top City Pale Lancelot Oak laminate benchtops to the bathroom.
- Tile Gallery porcelain tiles to the bathroom.
- Moreland Glass steel bi-fold doors.
- Centor concealed flyscreen.
Exterior palette
Your turn
What impresses you most in this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
You won’t want to miss last week’s renovation. See it here: A Postwar Canberra Cottage Gets a Gentle Upgrade
- Kingspan Zincalume roofing.
- Dulux Whisper White to the interior walls and ceiling.
- Dulux Stowe White to the exterior walls.
Your turn
What impresses you most in this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
You won’t want to miss last week’s renovation. See it here: A Postwar Canberra Cottage Gets a Gentle Upgrade
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your kind comments.
To answer some of your questions:
Compromises had to be made based on the budget and space available on a very small site.
The steel windows were a must have! Unfortunately they are not thermally broken. it just would not have fitted the budget.
A heat pump, while ideal, was too big and would have obstructed the view from the main bedroom.
The casing of the fly-wire screen is built into the wall. And it slides directly behind the bi-fold doors.
The pergola was designed to grow a deciduous creeper. We discussed the sizing with our engineer, who came up with the design.
Hope this answers some of your questions and all the best with your projects!
Cheers,
Renuka
A brilliant renovation, so much achieved on a pretty tight budget. 👍👍
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your comments - delighted you like it!
Best regards,
Renuka