Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Heritage Home Is Thrown a Curve
A curvaceous pavilion, a chef's kitchen and plenty of poolside dining has created an entertainer's haven for one happy family
A timber-lined annex provides this home with its distinctive feature – a curvaceous pavilion – and, subsequently, its name of ‘Curva House’. Attached to the side of the home and open to both the front and back gardens of a substantial Federation house in East Malvern, a leafy suburb of Melbourne, the pavilion blurs the boundary of indoor and outdoor as the timber cladding reaches beyond the glass doors into the dining space ceiling.
The homeowners wanted a house in which to entertain friends and enjoy family life. This desire was at the core of their brief to architect Linda Simons of LSA Architects, who was contracted to design the renovation and extension plans. Top of the couple’s wish list of inclusions was a dream kitchen. “One of the owners is a professional chef, and he wanted the kitchen space to be as functional as it would be beautiful,” says Simons. “Therefore we added a large butler’s pantry with lots of storage, double sinks and hardworking appliances. This area can be opened and connected to the goings-on in the living room or completely hidden behind bi-fold doors.”
Simons was also asked to seamlessly blend the old with the new. The rooms of the older part of the house have been updated and include three bedrooms, an ensuite for parents and separate family bathroom for children and guests, as well as a sunny sitting room and a study. These rooms are all accessed via a central hallway which leads through to the back of the home and thereon to a spacious new extension that accommodates the expansive living areas. For the owners, the results couldn’t have been better. The home’s heritage values have been left intact while the family have gained a contemporary extension of generous proportions.
The homeowners wanted a house in which to entertain friends and enjoy family life. This desire was at the core of their brief to architect Linda Simons of LSA Architects, who was contracted to design the renovation and extension plans. Top of the couple’s wish list of inclusions was a dream kitchen. “One of the owners is a professional chef, and he wanted the kitchen space to be as functional as it would be beautiful,” says Simons. “Therefore we added a large butler’s pantry with lots of storage, double sinks and hardworking appliances. This area can be opened and connected to the goings-on in the living room or completely hidden behind bi-fold doors.”
Simons was also asked to seamlessly blend the old with the new. The rooms of the older part of the house have been updated and include three bedrooms, an ensuite for parents and separate family bathroom for children and guests, as well as a sunny sitting room and a study. These rooms are all accessed via a central hallway which leads through to the back of the home and thereon to a spacious new extension that accommodates the expansive living areas. For the owners, the results couldn’t have been better. The home’s heritage values have been left intact while the family have gained a contemporary extension of generous proportions.
Leading from the dining room and providing extra living space for the family, the pavilion is accessed via aluminium bi-fold doors. There is also a door from the pavilion leading to the pool, “which is handy when supervising children splashing about in it,” says Simons.
“The design and position of the pavilion allows for entertaining all year round as desired,” says Simons. “The area is sheltered from the elements but is light and airy. The family uses it as an outdoor living room, but they can also extend the dining space into it to accommodate a very long table.”
The white bulbous outdoor furniture seen here was purchased by the homeowners after a trip to the Milan furniture fair one year. “The coffee table is actually lit from within and is perfect for summer evenings,” says Simons.
“The design and position of the pavilion allows for entertaining all year round as desired,” says Simons. “The area is sheltered from the elements but is light and airy. The family uses it as an outdoor living room, but they can also extend the dining space into it to accommodate a very long table.”
The white bulbous outdoor furniture seen here was purchased by the homeowners after a trip to the Milan furniture fair one year. “The coffee table is actually lit from within and is perfect for summer evenings,” says Simons.
Immediately behind the dining setting is an all-white kitchen. It is the hub of the new interior and Simons wanted to make it shine. She honoured its importance to the family, and especially to man of the house and his culinary interests, by using high-quality materials in its construction, including Calacatta marble for the benchtops and splashback.
“The kitchen is at the axis of the modern extension,” says Simons, “with the dining, living, outdoor entertaining area, pool and garden radiating off this central space. Linking these zones has allowed the family to live together while still being able to separately enjoy different areas.”
“The kitchen is at the axis of the modern extension,” says Simons, “with the dining, living, outdoor entertaining area, pool and garden radiating off this central space. Linking these zones has allowed the family to live together while still being able to separately enjoy different areas.”
The dining room connects the curved pavilion to the main living area via the kitchen, and these three zones wrap around the pool. Everywhere is flooded with light, despite the fact the house is south-facing. Vast panes of floor-to-ceiling glazing facilitate the brightness while separating the inside house from the outside pool.
Furniture and decorative items: Coco Republic
Furniture and decorative items: Coco Republic
Complementing the marble benchtops are gleaming white two-pack polyester-finished kitchen cupboards. The look is sleek and seemless but it hides all the modern conveniences the chef of the house expects to be at the ready. There is an integrated fridge freezer at one end, plenty of cupboard and drawer space for pots and pans in the mid-section and a butler’s pantry at the other end. The butler’s pantry is separated from the kitchen by bi-fold doors. They are closed here – but are seen open below.
More marble ideas for kitchens
More marble ideas for kitchens
With bi-fold doors open, the family can look through from the kitchen into the butler’s pantry. “The butler’s pantry can be completely closed off, both with bi-fold and full-height pivot doors,” says Simons. “It means any mess can be swiftly hidden away.
“Note the generous storage area for wine under the small servery,” continues Simons. “This small benchtop is useful for additional food preparation. It’s where the homeowners can set up snacks for their kids, prepare food quickly and leave the toaster and kettle out if need be.”
“Note the generous storage area for wine under the small servery,” continues Simons. “This small benchtop is useful for additional food preparation. It’s where the homeowners can set up snacks for their kids, prepare food quickly and leave the toaster and kettle out if need be.”
While the kitchen proper has a small single sink, the butler’s pantry is expected to work harder and therefore includes a large double sink and dishwasher. “We also decided to extend the marble bench for the continuation of the luxurious feel we’ve achieved in the kitchen,” says Simons.
Through the kitchen and flanking the pool is a large contemporary living area. Simons chose a subdued but warm monotone palette for this room. The grey sofa, imported from Italy, is long and low, perfect for a family to spread out on and watch television together.
The black glass-reflective cabinetry above the fireplace encircles the TV and somewhat obscures it. “The cabinet unit’s surface also reflects light from the pool beyond,” says Simons. The dark wood-lined shelving complements the wall unit. There are also wall-hung drawers to hide AV equipment and provide general storage, while floating shelves are useful for decorative pieces.
Simplicity fireplace: Real Flame;
coffee table, tall lamp, cushions and rug: Coco Republic
The black glass-reflective cabinetry above the fireplace encircles the TV and somewhat obscures it. “The cabinet unit’s surface also reflects light from the pool beyond,” says Simons. The dark wood-lined shelving complements the wall unit. There are also wall-hung drawers to hide AV equipment and provide general storage, while floating shelves are useful for decorative pieces.
Simplicity fireplace: Real Flame;
coffee table, tall lamp, cushions and rug: Coco Republic
Forming an L-shape that hugs the pool, the home’s modern extension accommodates this new living area and kitchen on one side while the dining and covered outdoor area sits within the curved pavilion.
“The site orientation was the biggest challenge to success as the living rooms at the back of the property were south-facing – so they didn’t offer the best light,” says Simons. “We overcame this by installing windows, literally walls of glass, to overlook the pool, which in turn reflects light back into the living area.”
“The site orientation was the biggest challenge to success as the living rooms at the back of the property were south-facing – so they didn’t offer the best light,” says Simons. “We overcame this by installing windows, literally walls of glass, to overlook the pool, which in turn reflects light back into the living area.”
The design of the extension can be fully appreciated from the grassed yard. “You can clearly see the contrast of three architectural elements – namely the white timber-clad curved annex, the squared black steel that boxes the living room and decks that will fade to grey over time,” says Simons. “Also, from here at the back of the property, you can see the covered back-door entry – the property also has rear lane access.”
All rooms in the extension overlook a sapphire blue pool and lawn area. The decking encircles the pool softening its angular edge. “This is a home where formality, fun and family are melded into a cohesive whole,” says Simons.
Simons’ floor plan clearly shows how the old and new parts of the house were designed to blend into one streamlined whole. All rooms are accessed from a central hallway, except for the curved pavilion, seen off the dining room on the right-hand-side of the plan at the mid-way point. The pavilion distinctly marks the shift from Federation house to new extension.
Some of Melbourne’s finest heritage homes are in East Malvern. They are framed by a leafy canopy provided by the many trees that line the streets.
The homeowners’ house is set back on the block with deep front gardens. “The formal gardens, heritage facade and bedroom zones of the stately Federation home welcome you. Then, the house opens up to reveal a thoroughly modern and playful family area,” says Simons.
The homeowners’ house is set back on the block with deep front gardens. “The formal gardens, heritage facade and bedroom zones of the stately Federation home welcome you. Then, the house opens up to reveal a thoroughly modern and playful family area,” says Simons.
A Vespa motorbike is parked under the generous verandah roof, out of the weather.
The homeowners planted the front gardens when they first bought the house. They are now well established and include clipped hedges, flowering vines and topiary bushes. They are in contrast to the low-maintenance plantings in the backyard.
The entrance to the home is graced by original stained-glass in the front door and verandah windows, but elsewhere the renovation has brought about new updates. For example, new floorboards have been laid in the front of the house to match the flooring in the new extension.
There are three bedrooms in the house, as well as a study that can be counted as a fourth bedroom. Pictured here is the master, which is furnished with a large mahogany sleigh bed.
Bedsides, light and cushions: Coco Republic
What used to be another smaller bedroom next to the master has been split into two parts to accommodate a walk-in robe and ensuite (see space 7 on the floor plan).
The homeowners wanted an original fireplace to be kept as a design feature in the new master ensuite. Simons had it painted white to stand out as a special feature and also installed a gas-fuelled fireplace so that the family could enjoy its warmth while taking a bath. There are matching vanities, which feature the same Calacatta marble as in the kitchen, and these flank either side of the fireplace.
A hanging towel rail, imported from Italy, is suspended from the ceiling.
Using the same vanity marble and floor tile as in the ensuite, the family bathroom is a slightly larger version of the master ensuite. It sits between the children’s bedrooms, which are further down the hall from the master bedroom. This bathroom includes a shower and toilet enclosed in glass walls frosted for privacy (you can see this in the reflection in the mirror). An engineered stone bath sits at the far end of the large wall-hung vanity which features twin basins for the two children.
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: East Malvern, Melbourne
Size: site area: 855 square metres; floor area: 306 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, pool
One of the underlying principles of architect Linda Simons’ design was to slowly reveal the contemporary additions at the rear of the home. When in the design phase of the project, Simons says she was particularly mindful of the heritage context for these additions – the large brick Federation house to which they were added is part of an historic area in East Malvern known as the Gascoigne Estate.
From the front, the house appears in its original form but to the side a visitor can just discern the most distinguishing architectural feature of Simons design – an outdoor sitting area and dining room that is enveloped in a Tasmanian oak-lined curved addition or pavilion. It essentially marks where the old (front) part of the house meets the (new) extension. “Glimpses of the pavilion be seen from the street and driveway,” says Simons. “However, a low canopy of trees protects the privacy of anyone sitting in it.”