Project Of The Week
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Appears in
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome TimeMade Local
Architecture
Renovating
Fresh & Fun: A Small, Dark and Dated Terrace Gets a New Look
See how bold colour, smart storage and an improved layout transformed a Victorian terrace for a young family
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, Susan Cleveland, interior designer and principal at Susan Cleveland Design, reveals how she reinvented a stuffy and poorly laid out terrace as a functional and cheery family home for a couple with an energetic toddler.
The original loft bedroom before works
What was the original house like?
A detached, two-storey Victorian terrace with a heritage overlay. The house had three bedrooms, one combined bathroom-laundry and a 90-square-metre extension.
What condition was the house in when you came onboard?
The facade and hallway were original, but the ’90s kitchen felt tired. The home’s one bathroom doubled as a laundry, which was inefficient in a family home.
What was the original house like?
A detached, two-storey Victorian terrace with a heritage overlay. The house had three bedrooms, one combined bathroom-laundry and a 90-square-metre extension.
What condition was the house in when you came onboard?
The facade and hallway were original, but the ’90s kitchen felt tired. The home’s one bathroom doubled as a laundry, which was inefficient in a family home.
The original floor plan
What wasn’t working for the client about the house originally?
What wasn’t working for the client about the house originally?
- There was a dark point in the middle of the house.
- There was no ensuite.
- There were no wardrobes.
- The main bedroom was not functional.
- There was no reasonable sitting area in the courtyard.
The new ground-floor plan
Gained
Gained
- More ground-floor living space, which was achieved by extending the living area over the old balcony.
- A new main bedroom to the loft with storage and an ensuite.
- A balcony to the new master suite to capture city views and provide a breakaway spot for the parents.
- A new main bathroom on the ground floor.
- We moved the laundry from the main bathroom to the kitchen.
- Specified new stairs connecting the ground floor and loft in an open-tread style, which floods the downstairs with light.
- Integrated storage throughout.
The new first-floor plan
Brief
Brief
- Functional spaces in a style to suit the client’s unique urban taste and aesthetic.
- A new kitchen.
- A new main bathroom with a bathtub.
- More living space.
- An ensuite to the main bedroom.
- Wardrobes.
The new master suite in the loft
What was the budget?
$300,000 plus.
Where did most of it go?
On engineering, design, permits, cabinetry, new engineered flooring, heating and cooling, the windows and build.
What was the budget?
$300,000 plus.
Where did most of it go?
On engineering, design, permits, cabinetry, new engineered flooring, heating and cooling, the windows and build.
What problem or constraint did this project address?
The house is small and clever design was required to include a new ensuite in the layout.
How does the new work address this issue?
We increased the home’s overall footprint and managed to incorporate a dedicated ensuite, wardrobes and storage.
The house is small and clever design was required to include a new ensuite in the layout.
How does the new work address this issue?
We increased the home’s overall footprint and managed to incorporate a dedicated ensuite, wardrobes and storage.
Tell us about the home’s striking built-in joinery
Storage was an important part of this project and it needed to reflect the client’s eclectic taste.
We took a lateral approach by running the built-in storage in the main bedroom the full length of the room and incorporating the portion where the room meets the stairs. This created an abundance of usable storage, plus a small reading area to relax with a good book.
Storage was an important part of this project and it needed to reflect the client’s eclectic taste.
We took a lateral approach by running the built-in storage in the main bedroom the full length of the room and incorporating the portion where the room meets the stairs. This created an abundance of usable storage, plus a small reading area to relax with a good book.
What challenges did you have to work around during this project?
- The home’s heritage overlay.
- Restrictions in overlooking the neighbours.
- Stair design in a narrow space.
- Creating an ensuite in a loft ceiling.
The new ensuite
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Added a new ensuite and wardrobe to the loft bedroom.
- Added new windows and doors to the loft for access to a new balcony.
- Replaced the old closed-in stairs with new open treads to enhance natural light.
- Installed a new kitchen with a European laundry.
- Installed a new main bathroom on the ground floor.
- Increased the downstairs footprint to maximise the living space.
- Added large sliding-stacker doors to the deck to boost indoor-outdoor connection.
The new ensuite
How much restoration work was involved with this project?
We restored the front of the home with new tessellated tiles and repainted throughout.
How much restoration work was involved with this project?
We restored the front of the home with new tessellated tiles and repainted throughout.
The kitchen before works
Why do you think the house now works so well?
There is a place for everything.
Why do you think the house now works so well?
There is a place for everything.
The new kitchen after works
What are the defining features of this project?
What are the defining features of this project?
- It’s smart and surprisingly spacious.
- There are fun and surprising elements.
- It’s unique and individual.
Interior materials palette
- Joinery to master bedroom and ensuite designed by Susan Cleveland Design and crafted by Williams Cabinets.
- Auburn Woodturning custom handles to wardrobes.
- Caesarstone Rugged Concrete to kitchen benchtops.
- Ensuite vanity top in Caesarstone Cloudburst Concrete.
- V-join cabinetry to wardrobe painted in Dulux Farrago.
- Two-pack polyurethane cabinetry throughout finished in Dulux Casper White.
- Prestige Oak timber flooring.
- Polytec Prime Oak to main bathroom vanity top and open shelving in kitchen.
- Bonnie & Neil floor tiles to ensuite.
- Byzantine Design subway tiles to both bathrooms.
- Brodware Yokato tapware and towel rails.
- Omvivo basin to ensuite.
- Reece Roca The Gap toilet to ensuite.
- Euroluce Flos Glo Ball lights to ensuite.
Interior fixtures and fittings
Paint colours
- Cannes joinery to main bathroom supplied by Williams Cabinets.
- Life Interiors Flynn Curve Rectangle Mirror to main bathroom.
- Auburn Woodturning kitchen cabinetry handles.
- Oliveri gunmetal sink to kitchen.
- Oliveri black pull-out tap to kitchen.
- Flos R & E Bouroullec Aim pendant lights to living room.
Paint colours
- Dulux Casper White to vanities and kitchen.
- Dulux Farrago to master bedroom wardrobe.
Tell us about the striking staircase
We used timber treads to add warmth and softness to the home’s interior.
We chose open treads in order to allow natural light to flow though to the downstairs living space.
Adding perforation to the rear of the stairs satisfies the client’s industrial bent.
We ran one stair to the wall to create a cosy desk area.
We used timber treads to add warmth and softness to the home’s interior.
We chose open treads in order to allow natural light to flow though to the downstairs living space.
Adding perforation to the rear of the stairs satisfies the client’s industrial bent.
We ran one stair to the wall to create a cosy desk area.
White walls and ceiling balance out the striking patterned tiles in the main bathroom
Browse more beautiful black and white bathrooms
Browse more beautiful black and white bathrooms
Your turn
Do you love this bright and cheery refresh as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more great renovations? Don’t miss this great Project of the Week, Pattern Cottage: A Second Storey & Pretty Prints for a Sweet Home
Do you love this bright and cheery refresh as much as we do? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more great renovations? Don’t miss this great Project of the Week, Pattern Cottage: A Second Storey & Pretty Prints for a Sweet Home
Answers by Susan Cleveland, interior designer and principal at Susan Cleveland Design
Who lives here: A couple with a toddler
Location: Princes Hill, Victoria
Size of the original house: 148 square metres
Size of the house after works: 185 square metres
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms originally: Three bedrooms and one combined bathroom-laundry
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a European laundry
Interior designer: Susan Cleveland Design
Builder: Daniel Jeffrey at Optimum Renovations
Engineer: BDD Engineering
Joiner: Williams Cabinets