Pic taken on sale of property by Ray White, Mount Barker. Used with permission. Lush garden with only Australian natives and attracting wildlife.

Photo of a small contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Melbourne with metal siding, a flat roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Fringe Dweller’s sculpted extension transforms an unassuming weatherboard cottage into a proud forever home. It walks multiple tightropes at once: balancing openness with privacy, strength with softness, and a rich history with our clients’ future needs. On Clifton Hill’s suburban edge, the house sits opposite the leafy Quarries Park Reserve. Our clients, Ishtar and Craig, have three children and purchased their cottage to create a long-term family home. Lying within a heritage overlay, the cottage’s traditional layout is largely preserved – only tweaked, in a wise parenting move, to form three equally sized bedrooms. The extension’s shared spaces feature rich materials, a warm palette and curved edges, creating a feeling of softness and easing transitions between zones. A staircase arcing through the living areas leads up to the lounge and main suite. Elevated above street level, these spaces can more freely relate to the park: the lounge’s attached balcony overlooks the park’s open field, while the main bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling window frames magnificent foliage. Downstairs, sliding doors connect the living areas to a semi-covered deck, while the garden beyond is embraced by a self-contained studio at the rear and high walls on either side. A brick wall interspersed with permeable screens lines the site’s public edge, balancing backyard privacy with neighbourhood connection. For passers-by, it’s a strong addition to the streetscape, granting glimpses of the lush garden within. Fringe Dweller embraces its presence on the fringe of the parklands, balancing its historical context with its future as a nurturing family home.

Design ideas for a country three-storey brown house exterior in Buckinghamshire with wood siding and a grey roof.

Part two storey and single storey extensions to a semi-detached 1930 home at the back of the house to expand the space for a growing family and allow for the interior to feel brighter and more joyful.

Rear elevation view. 2 x storey side extension and single storey side extension.
This is an example of a large contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Essex with mixed siding, a gable roof, a tile roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

Inspiration for a contemporary one-storey house exterior in Nantes with metal siding, a metal roof and a grey roof.

Beach style two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Sydney with a grey roof.

Large modern one-storey brick grey house exterior in Adelaide with a flat roof, a metal roof and a grey roof.

This is an example of a contemporary two-storey house exterior in Munich with wood siding, a gable roof, a tile roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

A tired, small 1970's house was refurbished and extended to become a modern, light-filled, sunny family home. The original house didn't take advantage of its leafy, expansive site, so the extension pushed north and opened up to the sun and outdoors. Living areas flow onto spacious, sunny outdoor areas to the north, and a generous hallway flows through to a new pool and the mature, leafy trees of the neighbouring park. A strong, geometric form sits wide on the site and its pitched roof creates open, airy, light-filled interior spaces. High windows give glimpses of the sky and surrounding trees, and side windows provide a green, leafy outlook to the reserve next door. A muted but rich finishes palette and carefully designed cabinetry complement the lofty architecture. This busy young family can now live and thrive in their beautifully spacious, well-functioning home.

Photo of a contemporary three-storey stucco grey house exterior in Other with a gable roof, a tile roof and a grey roof.

Hemmed in by houses on a tiny urban site, a gable roofed addition along one side is tucked behind the cottage allowing for the living room on the other side to have vaulted ceilings.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey stucco grey house exterior in Cologne with a shed roof, a tile roof and a grey roof.

Craftsman renovation and extension
This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey blue exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding, a clipped gable roof, a shingle roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Foto: Michael Voit, Nußdorf
Photo of a large contemporary two-storey grey house exterior in Munich with wood siding, a gable roof, a tile roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

Part two storey and single storey extensions to a semi-detached 1930 home at the back of the house to expand the space for a growing family and allow for the interior to feel brighter and more joyful.

Maison avec terrasse
This is an example of an expansive contemporary two-storey grey house exterior in Paris with wood siding, a shed roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

Inspiration for a contemporary two-storey stucco beige house exterior in Brisbane with a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.