Melbourne Houzz: A Crumbling Edwardian Gem Comes of Age
See how a thoughtful extension with a handcrafted feel has breathed new life into this once falling-apart period home
Georgia Madden
29 September 2022
This three-bedroom, one-bathroom home was in a serious state of disrepair when the owners contacted architect Sarah Bryant of Bryant Alsop Architects to help them bring it up to date and add more space. “Cabinetry was falling apart, the roof was leaking, and there was a dead possum in the skylight. It was also dark, the interior felt disconnected from the backyard, and the house was performing poorly from a sustainability perspective,” says Bryant.
Images by Emily Bartlett Photography.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three young children
Location: Malvern, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms, one bathroom
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
House size before works: Around 167 square metres
House size after works: Around 337 square metres
Architect and interior designer: Bryant Alsop Architects (project director Sarah Bryant, graduate architect Tom Minifie and interior designer Prue Gordon)
Furniture selection:
Builder: Fortem Projects
Landscaping: Andrew Plant Landscapes
“Our initial thoughts were to do a minor upgrade, but it quickly became apparent that this Edwardian gem needed a little more love and a complete makeover to create the long-term home this busy family of five envisaged,” says Sarah Bryant. Here’s how she and her team went about it.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three young children
Location: Malvern, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms, one bathroom
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
House size before works: Around 167 square metres
House size after works: Around 337 square metres
Architect and interior designer: Bryant Alsop Architects (project director Sarah Bryant, graduate architect Tom Minifie and interior designer Prue Gordon)
Furniture selection:
Builder: Fortem Projects
Landscaping: Andrew Plant Landscapes
“Our initial thoughts were to do a minor upgrade, but it quickly became apparent that this Edwardian gem needed a little more love and a complete makeover to create the long-term home this busy family of five envisaged,” says Sarah Bryant. Here’s how she and her team went about it.
Valley sofa: Jardan; Strand pendant: Muuto.
At the heart of Bryant’s design solution is a sculptural, two-storey rear extension, which replaces the dark and dysfunctional 1980s extension that previously stood here.
The sun-soaked new addition houses an open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, butler’s pantry and powder room on the lower level. Upstairs are three new bedrooms for the children, along with a rumpus room with a built-in study zone and a shared bathroom.
At the heart of Bryant’s design solution is a sculptural, two-storey rear extension, which replaces the dark and dysfunctional 1980s extension that previously stood here.
The sun-soaked new addition houses an open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, butler’s pantry and powder room on the lower level. Upstairs are three new bedrooms for the children, along with a rumpus room with a built-in study zone and a shared bathroom.
Ground-floor plan.
The original three front rooms on the ground floor were retained and restored to create a tranquil main bedroom suite for the parents, a formal sitting room and a study.
Ready to renovate? Find an architect near you on Houzz
The original three front rooms on the ground floor were retained and restored to create a tranquil main bedroom suite for the parents, a formal sitting room and a study.
Ready to renovate? Find an architect near you on Houzz
First-floor plan.
The client’s brief was very open-ended – they wanted a home that would cater to their family of five, now and in the future, in a contemporary way.
“They were very trusting and didn’t prescribe much, apart from creating a spot to keep their record player! They really were perfect clients,” says Bryant.
The client’s brief was very open-ended – they wanted a home that would cater to their family of five, now and in the future, in a contemporary way.
“They were very trusting and didn’t prescribe much, apart from creating a spot to keep their record player! They really were perfect clients,” says Bryant.
The rear facade before works.
As with every renovation, there were a number of issues to contend with. In this case, a long, narrow floor plate made bringing light into the centre a challenge. Adding to that was an established golden ash tree in the garden that needed to be retained and protected, which occupied a spot where the extension would naturally go.
Bryant solved the golden ash issue by curving the line of the new addition to accommodate the much-loved tree – a move that softened the exterior and went on to become a defining feature of the project.
As with every renovation, there were a number of issues to contend with. In this case, a long, narrow floor plate made bringing light into the centre a challenge. Adding to that was an established golden ash tree in the garden that needed to be retained and protected, which occupied a spot where the extension would naturally go.
Bryant solved the golden ash issue by curving the line of the new addition to accommodate the much-loved tree – a move that softened the exterior and went on to become a defining feature of the project.
Pure Velvets Crinkled White bricks: PGH Bricks & Pavers.
From there, she added a north-facing courtyard on the home’s side boundary that breaks up the long, linear floor plan and fills the new kitchen and dining area with light year-round.
From there, she added a north-facing courtyard on the home’s side boundary that breaks up the long, linear floor plan and fills the new kitchen and dining area with light year-round.
The front facade before works.
While there were no heritage restrictions on the facade, Bryant chose to keep and restore it in order to celebrate the home’s original charm.
While there were no heritage restrictions on the facade, Bryant chose to keep and restore it in order to celebrate the home’s original charm.
The front facade after works.
The deteriorating windows and falling-apart brick were restored and the timber detailing was given a fresh coat of paint with an updated colour palette.
The deteriorating windows and falling-apart brick were restored and the timber detailing was given a fresh coat of paint with an updated colour palette.
The original rear extension.
While the new extension is unmistakably contemporary in its aesthetic, Bryant was keen to maintain the character of the older part of the house, and create a seamless transition between the two. She achieved this by choosing colours and materials that spoke the same language – understated, authentic and inspired by nature.
While the new extension is unmistakably contemporary in its aesthetic, Bryant was keen to maintain the character of the older part of the house, and create a seamless transition between the two. She achieved this by choosing colours and materials that spoke the same language – understated, authentic and inspired by nature.
The original rear extension.
Kitchen in the new open-plan rear extension. Albany rangehoods: Qasair; Wood Drift veneer on cabinetry: Naveneer; Japanese mosaic splashbak tiles: Academy Tiles; Retrostone benchtops: Neolith.
The curved theme of the architecture reappears in the kitchen, with a stunning rounded island and two cylindrical range hoods.
The curved theme of the architecture reappears in the kitchen, with a stunning rounded island and two cylindrical range hoods.
Soft, muted tones of grey-green and stone drawn from the backyard create a feeling of lightness and calm – the perfect tone to set for this busy family.
“Experience with smaller period homes has taught us how to create space and light in the tightest of homes,” says Bryant.
“Materials were chosen to tie in with period details and for their durability. Lighter colours and soft folding shapes help deceive the eye as to the narrow lot and restricted spaces,” she says.
“Materials were chosen to tie in with period details and for their durability. Lighter colours and soft folding shapes help deceive the eye as to the narrow lot and restricted spaces,” she says.
“The living spaces are connected and free-flowing while remaining distinct and intimate,” she says. “The family living space hovers above the ground on a concrete plinth to create a lightness and respect for the golden ash that sits on the north side of the space.”
Dining table and chairs: Jardan.
Family meals can now be enjoyed with an unimpeded view out to the garden.
Browse more images of contemporary Australian dining rooms on Houzz
Family meals can now be enjoyed with an unimpeded view out to the garden.
Browse more images of contemporary Australian dining rooms on Houzz
The original rear extension.
Armchair and sofa: Jardan; fireplace: Jetmaster.
A wood-burning fireplace in the new living area creates a cosy spot for all the family to gather and watch movies or play games in the cooler months.
A wood-burning fireplace in the new living area creates a cosy spot for all the family to gather and watch movies or play games in the cooler months.
The laundry. Aspen Elm veneer: Evenex.
Generous, floor-to-ceiling custom joinery in the laundry keeps this hard-working room tidy and organised.
Generous, floor-to-ceiling custom joinery in the laundry keeps this hard-working room tidy and organised.
The sitting room at the front of the house.
Warm grey on the walls of the sitting room sets a more formal and intimate tone than the new part of the house.
Warm grey on the walls of the sitting room sets a more formal and intimate tone than the new part of the house.
The cream brickwork on the extension speaks to the red bricks on the original facade, while conveying a sense of lightness and delicacy.
The powder room. Halo basin: United Products; wall tiles: Academy Tiles.
Textural kit-kat tiles line the walls of the new powder room, while a round wall-hung basin and pill-shaped mirror continue the home’s curved theme.
Textural kit-kat tiles line the walls of the new powder room, while a round wall-hung basin and pill-shaped mirror continue the home’s curved theme.
The new family bathroom shared by the children.
Your turn
Are you as charmed by this renovation and extension as we are? Share your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautiful renovation of an old home? Don’t miss this story – Lifestyle Lift: A Century-Old Home Now Made for Entertaining
Your turn
Are you as charmed by this renovation and extension as we are? Share your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautiful renovation of an old home? Don’t miss this story – Lifestyle Lift: A Century-Old Home Now Made for Entertaining
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But why does the sink in the powder room have nowhere for the soap?
Simply stunning! I am a curve lover and this home celebrates them beautifully. Kudos to the architects and interior designers.
The building’s “curves” are a touch of Art Deco - such a relief after 10 years of “angular” Mid-Century Modern.