Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Bijou Bungalow Becomes a Spacious Family Home
A small, dark and tired house has been transformed into a light-filled family home with plenty of room to move
Space, openness and natural light are desirable characteristics of a modern home. While many early 20th-century buildings didn’t prioritise such elements, as these houses have been renovated for contemporary life they have been transformed to maximise these attributes – which is good for both energy efficiency and a sense of wellbeing.
That’s certainly the case for this house in Northcote, Melbourne, where Ardent Architects revitalised a small, dark and rundown house into a light-filled, open and spacious family home. The process included adding a glass-walled second-storey extension to the rear of the house, which brings natural light into almost every space, and completely transforms the home’s aesthetic, making it a fresh, contemporary statement.
That’s certainly the case for this house in Northcote, Melbourne, where Ardent Architects revitalised a small, dark and rundown house into a light-filled, open and spacious family home. The process included adding a glass-walled second-storey extension to the rear of the house, which brings natural light into almost every space, and completely transforms the home’s aesthetic, making it a fresh, contemporary statement.
The house is situated on a 334-square-metre corner block, which presented both challenges and opportunities. The modest size of the site meant a two-storey extension would be necessary in order to retain the backyard, but the corner block meant there could be two points of access, as well as an unobstructed easterly aspect for views and morning light.
The house is now configured with the master bedroom and ensuite at the front of the house, the living area at the rear, and the remaining two bedrooms and a retreat upstairs.
The main entrance has been moved to the side of the house, where it leads into the main living area rather than having guests walk through the front bedroom area upon arrival. A void at the entrance connects the levels and introduces the sense of space and light that is a theme throughout the house.
While the form and character of the front of the house were retained, the rear has changed dramatically from what it used to be.
Building up instead of out allowed space for the required parking, a backyard and an entertaining area. The paving extending from the house to the driveway creates a large outdoor entertaining area when there are no cars.
The two-storey extension has a double-height void, and when illuminated it glows like a lantern at night.
The two-storey extension has a double-height void, and when illuminated it glows like a lantern at night.
The fence and exterior walls are composed of recycled bricks, with random painted bricks for texture and variance. “The house was going to be very exposed to the side street, so we wanted a main exterior material that was hard wearing, textured and had colour variation,” Morris explains. “The choice of recycled brick allowed us to tie the boundary fence in with the house and give it a mottled patina.”
Inside, the rear extension is filled with light and has a great sense of openness and space. Black aluminium framing creates a timeless aesthetic, in combination with the crisp white walls and black architectural details.
Double glazing and aluminium framing: Aztec Windows; Aether Suspended Fireplace: Aurora
Double glazing and aluminium framing: Aztec Windows; Aether Suspended Fireplace: Aurora
The lounge area is situated beneath the void, while the kitchen and dining area have a lower ceiling, creating a more intimate feel. The brick wall at the relocated main entrance can be glimpsed from the living area, creating visual continuity with the brick wall around the perimeter of the site.
“The room was designed to open up and reveal itself as you walked through to the two-storey glazed rear wall,” says Morris.
Structural steel beams are exposed throughout the open-plan living space, and the glossy black finish continues the theme of the aluminium framing on the rear glazed wall.
The space has polished concrete flooring, with white cement to lighten the colour, and black-and-white quartz aggregate for visual interest. “The in-slab heating, coupled with the double glazing and R4.0 roof insulation, makes the house very efficient to [heat and] cool,” says Morris.
The space has polished concrete flooring, with white cement to lighten the colour, and black-and-white quartz aggregate for visual interest. “The in-slab heating, coupled with the double glazing and R4.0 roof insulation, makes the house very efficient to [heat and] cool,” says Morris.
The kitchen is warm and modern with a Carrara marble island and benchtops, and black and timber joinery. The black cabinetry complements the architectural details throughout, while the timber cabinetry harmonises with the brick wall outside.
The multi-purpose kitchen island accommodates the sink and provides space for preparation and cooking. It also serves as an informal dining, working or socialising space, and a bookshelf is ideal for recipe books, decorative objects and plants.
A glass splashback extends the length of the kitchen bench. “The one-piece splashback window gives a glimpse of the beautifully mottled, recycled brick,” Morris explains.
The entrance at the front of the house has been returned to its former glory, enhancing the character of the original weatherboard house, but now with a new deck bathed in northern light.
Behind the door, the formerly dark entrance hall has been opened up to be more spacious, welcoming and functional, with a compact study space along one side.
The master bedroom is to the other side of the hallway, where windows look out to the street at the front of the house. The aspect takes advantage of the northern light and warmth in the winter, while louvres help to control it in summer.
The master ensuite is clean and contemporary with subway tiles on the walls, herringbone marble tiling on the floor, a timber vanity and black detailing. “The black-and-white theme of the living area has been carried throughout the house, including the black doors and bathroom fittings to contrast the white tiles,” says Morris.
Upstairs contains a retreat, two bedrooms – including the owners’ daughter’s bedroom – and a bathroom.
The void at the entrance connects the two levels, as do the brick walls that extend the height of the two storeys and bring colour and texture to the entrance. “The returning of the brickwork internally also helped to give the side entrance and void an added sense of transparency,” says Morris.
The retreat area basks in light all day, receiving sunlight through the void to the north, windows to the east and glazed wall to the south. The eastern windows also offer a view to the large trees on the street.
The upstairs bedrooms are comfortable and simple, with crafted details such as the leather handles on the cupboards.
The bedrooms also open to a secret play space in the roof cavity of the existing house.
Grey tiles give the upstairs bathroom a more industrial look and feel, although the timber joinery and black details found in the rest of the house are still carried through.
“We are proud of the spaciousness and the feeling of it being much bigger than it actually is,” says Morris. “The rear living area is very comfortable and engaging, it gets an abundance of natural light, and being south facing doesn’t require blinds, which helps add to the openness.”
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“We are proud of the spaciousness and the feeling of it being much bigger than it actually is,” says Morris. “The rear living area is very comfortable and engaging, it gets an abundance of natural light, and being south facing doesn’t require blinds, which helps add to the openness.”
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Who lives here: Chris Loverso and Meredith Bertram, with their 9-year-old daughter, and George the dog
Location: Northcote, Victoria
Size: 191 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Design: Ardent Architects
Builder: Beirin Projects
“The concept was based around creating a full-sized family home on what is a very modestly sized block,” says Justin Morris, principal of Ardent Architects. “We wanted to create warm, modern living spaces while retaining the charming period front to the existing house.”