East Brunswick II

A solid brick federation home on a generous corner allotment required some re-planning and interior alterations to the existing northern living spaces to suit the growing demands of a busy family. The brief was not for a modern extension, rather an elegant restoration that transformed a character filled home without reinventing the architectural envelope and costly structural alterations. The existing kitchen was compact and disconnected from the meals area, not conductive to cooking & entertaining. A key part of the brief was for a functional kitchen with lot of storage, with close proximity to the edible garden and organics composting. The original patchwork of aged flooring was restored, including a combination of baltic pine and Australian hardwood boards, tessellated tiling with bluestone thresholds. A central marble and spotted gum island bench forms the focal point of the kitchen. New large sliding doors now connect the garden to the dining & kitchen spaces and open up to northern light and garden views. A refurbished laundry/ mud room is located off the side access to transition from weekend sports activities to indoors and provides an additional bathroom amenity for this active family. Working closely with the builder the existing lean-to was meticulously extended to encapsulate the original outdoor WC without compromising the roof structure. The new layout has been expanded dramatically to rid the space of redundant partitions and doors. Large openings now provide an easy flow from kitchen to dining and transform a once disconnected study into a bright & cosy ‘snug’. The overall colour and toning was selected for its inherent warmth and variation, resulting in a home that feels homely and renewed.