Houzz Tour: Sleek Potts Point Addition Goes With the Visitor Flow
A chic extension gets maximum mileage out of a run-down inner-city terrace with the help of a standout stairway
This Potts Point house wasn’t a house at all when the current owners bought it, but a Federation-style terrace that had been split into four apartments. It was in a run-down condition when the architects from Smart Design Studio took it on with a view to transform it into a contemporary home that could adapt to a varied number of occupants with ease. One partner travels overseas a lot for work and the other maintains and runs the home, and the couple often has family members to come and stay.
“The home had to accommodate mostly 1-2 people and at times sleep up to eight adults,” says architect William Smart. “The main objective was to create a private inner-city retreat for themselves and their extended family.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their two dogs, and many extended family members that stay periodically
Location: Potts Point, an upmarket urban area within Sydney, NSW
Size: 391 square metres. 3 bedrooms, music room, study, 3 bathrooms, walk-in robe, kitchen, formal/informal dining, living, double garage as well as external gardens and courtyard spaces.
“The home had to accommodate mostly 1-2 people and at times sleep up to eight adults,” says architect William Smart. “The main objective was to create a private inner-city retreat for themselves and their extended family.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their two dogs, and many extended family members that stay periodically
Location: Potts Point, an upmarket urban area within Sydney, NSW
Size: 391 square metres. 3 bedrooms, music room, study, 3 bathrooms, walk-in robe, kitchen, formal/informal dining, living, double garage as well as external gardens and courtyard spaces.
From the street, the smart terrace is as traditional as its neighbours, but the tall apartment buildings to the side and rear meant privacy considerations had to come into play for the planned extension.
From the back, the home is anything but traditional. Spanning three storeys, this ultra-modern addition features a central circular stairway to link the floors together.
“Broadly, the house falls into two halves: a modern half on the back and a traditional part on the front,” says Smart.
The original (and “traditional") house now accommodates the formal lounge and dining area, the master bedroom and ensuite, plus a music room.
“We retained the interior architecture with tall skirtings, dentil cornices and panelled doors,” Smart adds.
The original (and “traditional") house now accommodates the formal lounge and dining area, the master bedroom and ensuite, plus a music room.
“We retained the interior architecture with tall skirtings, dentil cornices and panelled doors,” Smart adds.
Smart then added a variety of strong colours that complemented each room’s usage, aspect and, in some cases, compensated for the challenging aspects of the room. For example, this room was formerly cold and dark, so it was painted blood red to provide warmth and colour. The paint colours throughout the house are by Resene, but colour matched to Dulux colours.
Wall colour: ‘Carmen Miranda,’ Dulux
Wall colour: ‘Carmen Miranda,’ Dulux
Bookcase: custom made; black ‘Dome’ table lamp by Todd Bracher for Mater; Phillipe Stark Prive sofa; and Phillipe Stark Prive ottoman: Cult
The master bedroom, also in the original part of the house, has been given a contemporary edge in line with the new addition at the rear.
Wall colour: ‘Veiled Delight,’ Dulux
Wall colour: ‘Veiled Delight,’ Dulux
DLM bedside table and black ‘Dome’ table lamp by Todd Bracher for Mater: Cult
The ensuite to the master bedroom is both luxurious and chic, with striking ‘Rossa Levanto’ marble walls set against clean white floors and fixtures. Smart Design Studio designed the bath and basin; they were then custom made in Corian.
The entry hall serves as a transitional space from the original home to the addition.
Wall colour: ‘Blue Garte,’ Dulux
Wall colour: ‘Blue Garte,’ Dulux
These two look like they’ve stepped straight out of a Dulux paint catalogue.
The powder room features marble ‘Nero Marquina’ tiles with a polished finish, from Classic Ceramics.
The rear portion of the house is monochromatic with white floors, walls and ceilings and a single blackened ash wall that runs the full three storeys of the extension.
The kitchen is as sleek as the rest of the addition. To accommodate three levels, Smart had the back of the block excavated. The ground-floor level now houses the living/dining and kitchen, while the original part of the house at this level houses the formal lounge and dining space, plus a powder room.
Gessi Oxygene Hi-Tech kitchen mixer with pull-out spray (on long bench): Abey Australia; Vola 590 benchtop mixer and swivel spout on roses (on island): Dedece; 6mm toughened starphire glass mirror: Grosvenor Glass
Gessi Oxygene Hi-Tech kitchen mixer with pull-out spray (on long bench): Abey Australia; Vola 590 benchtop mixer and swivel spout on roses (on island): Dedece; 6mm toughened starphire glass mirror: Grosvenor Glass
Tall windows and a disappearing glass wall that opens the kitchen/dining to the outdoors ensure this area of the home is flooded with light at any time of year.
Travertine tiles have been used throughout the kitchen, dining, laundry and bathroom, while blackbutt floorboards line the formal lounge/dining, hallway, master bedroom, study, guest bedroom and stair landings.
‘Shima Scuro’ Travertine tiles (900x300mm): Skheme; timber floors: Anton’s Flooring
Travertine tiles have been used throughout the kitchen, dining, laundry and bathroom, while blackbutt floorboards line the formal lounge/dining, hallway, master bedroom, study, guest bedroom and stair landings.
‘Shima Scuro’ Travertine tiles (900x300mm): Skheme; timber floors: Anton’s Flooring
The table is built into the island bench, which can act as a serving area during inside/outside gatherings.
Wishbone dining chairs: Carl Hansen
Wishbone dining chairs: Carl Hansen
“In contrast to the front part of the house the detailing is recessive, minimal and modern with expansive uninterrupted walls of glass or solid material,” Smart says of the addition.
“What grafts the new portion to the existing is a three-storey high spiral stair that extends the full width of the house with cantilevering treads that don’t touch the perimeter walls,” Smart says. “Further to this, because the house has split levels, there are no balustrades on the staircase.”
This 3D model shows what an integral part the stairs are to the addition.
Here’s the addition from the side.
The stairs were constructed by a boat builder and have an exquisite level of detail that binds the whole project together. In fact, the stairs are what Smart is most proud of about this house.
“The staircase is dramatic, clever and beautifully made. It’s the most impressive feature of the house.”
“The staircase is dramatic, clever and beautifully made. It’s the most impressive feature of the house.”
A simple, study punctuated with surprise dabs of colour is the only ‘room’ on the first floor; it overlooks the dining space.
Le Corbusier LC7 Swivel Chair: Cult; Tab T lamp: Euroluce
Le Corbusier LC7 Swivel Chair: Cult; Tab T lamp: Euroluce
A fold-out bed concealed in the wall means the study can become another guest room when required.
The third-storey guest room is awash with sunlight, and has the same minimalist approach and restrained colour palette as the rest of the house.
Stretch bed linen: Analu
Stretch bed linen: Analu
Energy-efficient fixtures and fittings are installed throughout the house and the design, plus planning and shading of the building was done with the environment in mind.
“Sustainability is a highly integrated and important part of this project,” Smart says. “Further to this we used native species for the gardens and Good Environmental Choice Australia-rated materials wherever possible.”
“Sustainability is a highly integrated and important part of this project,” Smart says. “Further to this we used native species for the gardens and Good Environmental Choice Australia-rated materials wherever possible.”
“Round rooms and secret doors emphasise the fluid contemporary aspects of these spaces,” Smart says.
This circular bathroom sits between the guest room and guest living area spanning the second floor – giving visiting family members their own space.
Duravit Architec Handrinse basin: Meco; ‘Signorino’ 600x600mm polished white tiles: Signorino
This circular bathroom sits between the guest room and guest living area spanning the second floor – giving visiting family members their own space.
Duravit Architec Handrinse basin: Meco; ‘Signorino’ 600x600mm polished white tiles: Signorino
The task of building an extensive addition on a compact inner-city site was a challenge. “It meant that we had to design the construction sequence as well as the house,” Smart says.
The external paving to front and rear gardens and external stepping stones are grey ‘Shima Scuro’ Travertine tiles (900x300mm), available from Skheme. They tie in seamlessly with the living areas on the ground level.
Smart managed to incorporate a sunny terraced garden in the design despite the narrow site and addition. The below-ground double garage lies beneath this garden.