Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Butterfly Roof Flatters Sydney Terrace
An inverted roof and garage-top addition have given these homeowners room to spread their wings in their now light-filled, airy home
This modern reinterpretation of a 19th-century Sydney terrace house takes full advantage of its narrow site. Architect Michelle Walker built the house up rather than out, restoring the second storey, adding two courtyards and building a new studio above the garage. New butterfly roofs top both structures, an inverted tribute to the surrounding roof pitches and a solution for the tight block of land’s limited natural light.
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales
Size: 163 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales
Size: 163 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The home’s location and narrow site directed its new look. “The design was all about getting natural light, views to the sky and ventilation into the old house, while maintaining privacy,” says Walker.
Walker turned the home's old terrace into the new main living space. A new courtyard just beyond the living room brings in welcome light to the space, and additional flow between indoors and outdoors.
New and old flooring in the main part of the house now blend seamlessly, thanks to a black stain.
Lighting: David Trubridge Coral pendant
New and old flooring in the main part of the house now blend seamlessly, thanks to a black stain.
Lighting: David Trubridge Coral pendant
A new galley-style kitchen next to the courtyard feels sleek and modern with white Caesarstone benchtops and replica Verner Panton Flower Pot pendants.
Benchtop: Caesarstone, Snow; oven, range/hood: ILVE; sink: Franke; dishwasher: Miele
Benchtop: Caesarstone, Snow; oven, range/hood: ILVE; sink: Franke; dishwasher: Miele
Splashes of orange run throughout the house. The owners love the bold colour and have a collection of orange glass and 1970s furniture with existing orange accents.
Across the way from the main living space, a new studio and office sits above the home's garage. The couple had wanted a rooftop garden but couldn't get it approved by the Sydney City Council. Instead, Walker made use of the narrow site's height and built a new studio and joint laundry over the garage.
Red-orange slats in the courtyard’s surrounding fencing carry the homeowners’ love of orange to the outdoors.
The butterfly roofs on the studio and main home resulted from Walker's consideration of the urban location. Because most of the surrounding terrace homes have steep roof pitches, Walker inverted the shape into modern butterfly roofs to give the home sun and light.
Walker loves the off-form concrete steps that lead off the studio. The lighted stairs double as seating in the courtyard.
Walker loves the off-form concrete steps that lead off the studio. The lighted stairs double as seating in the courtyard.
Cool, dark exterior colours contrast with the warm orange accents. Walker chose blue and grey stone, paint and polished concrete to tone down the occasional bright hues.
The home’s second-storey bedrooms have a clear view of the studio. The clients love that the butterfly roofs on both structures bring in sun, light and views to the sky while offering complete privacy from the neighbours and street.
The front of the house remains relatively traditional, aside from its new colour palette. Walker uncovered original sandstone flagging at the front porch under layers of tile. After removing the tile and cleaning the sandstone, the porch is back to its original condition.
Front door colour: Dulux, Nastrucian Flower; exterior colour: Dulux, Shale Grey
Front door colour: Dulux, Nastrucian Flower; exterior colour: Dulux, Shale Grey
The back, with its garage facing the rear lane, has a clean and modern look; the same colour palette ties the whole home together.