Project Of The Week
Architecture
Renovating
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Appears in
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome TimeMade Local
A Moody and Masculine Addition for a Home That'd Been Left Behind
See how a building designer balanced lashings of light with his client's desire for a dark and dramatic renovation
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation, redesign or new build each week. Here, Andrew Stapleton, building designer and director at DOOD Studio, shares how he brought light, drama and indoor-outdoor flow to a dark and run-down Victorian home for a pair of passionate entertainers.
Facade before works.
How would you describe the original house?
It was a three-bedroom, double-fronted Victorian weatherboard dwelling with a heritage overlay.
What state was it in?
The front of the house had heritage value, but was pretty run-down. The rear of the house was dark and lacked connection to the yard.
How would you describe the original house?
It was a three-bedroom, double-fronted Victorian weatherboard dwelling with a heritage overlay.
What state was it in?
The front of the house had heritage value, but was pretty run-down. The rear of the house was dark and lacked connection to the yard.
When was it last renovated?
There was a rear addition made in the 1970s – a classic lean-to with a low ceiling, slate floors and a tiny bathroom and laundry. It was starved of light and disconnected from the garden.
Desperate for more space? Find a local building designer on Houzz and chat with them about your options
There was a rear addition made in the 1970s – a classic lean-to with a low ceiling, slate floors and a tiny bathroom and laundry. It was starved of light and disconnected from the garden.
Desperate for more space? Find a local building designer on Houzz and chat with them about your options
Demolition plan.
What wasn’t working for the client?
The original house didn’t work for their lifestyle; they love hosting dinner parties, gardening, and wining and dining. They wanted a moody and masculine living space where they could host intimate dinners, while at the same time enjoying access to natural light and the landscape.
What wasn’t working for the client?
The original house didn’t work for their lifestyle; they love hosting dinner parties, gardening, and wining and dining. They wanted a moody and masculine living space where they could host intimate dinners, while at the same time enjoying access to natural light and the landscape.
Floor plan after works.
What was your scope of work?
To reconfigure the original part of the house, add a new rear extension and redesign the interiors.
What was your scope of work?
To reconfigure the original part of the house, add a new rear extension and redesign the interiors.
Kitchen before works.
What was your brief?
The client wanted to create a light-filled, moody addition to their heritage home. The focus of the architecture was to gain access to light and connect better with the landscape. This was achieved by punching a north-facing light court into the centre of the dwelling, allowing solar access at all times of the day to many areas of the home.
What was your brief?
The client wanted to create a light-filled, moody addition to their heritage home. The focus of the architecture was to gain access to light and connect better with the landscape. This was achieved by punching a north-facing light court into the centre of the dwelling, allowing solar access at all times of the day to many areas of the home.
Kitchen before works.
What did you do?
We restored the heritage facade and gutted the interior, retaining the structure of the front four rooms.
We reconfigured the original part of the house to have the two front rooms as bedrooms, transforming the third existing bedroom into an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. The fourth bedroom we redesigned as a home office that can also double as a third bedroom.
What did you do?
We restored the heritage facade and gutted the interior, retaining the structure of the front four rooms.
We reconfigured the original part of the house to have the two front rooms as bedrooms, transforming the third existing bedroom into an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. The fourth bedroom we redesigned as a home office that can also double as a third bedroom.
Kitchen after works.
The house required new wiring, plastering, insulation and re-stumping.
We demolished the rear lean-to in order to make way for a new, contemporary extension housing an additional bathroom, laundry, kitchen, walk-in butler’s pantry, meals area and living area, which opens onto an alfresco dining space.
A new north-facing light court in the centre of the dwelling fills the old and new parts with natural light.
The house required new wiring, plastering, insulation and re-stumping.
We demolished the rear lean-to in order to make way for a new, contemporary extension housing an additional bathroom, laundry, kitchen, walk-in butler’s pantry, meals area and living area, which opens onto an alfresco dining space.
A new north-facing light court in the centre of the dwelling fills the old and new parts with natural light.
Where did most of the AU$600,000 budget go?
On the new rear addition and the kitchen finishes.
On the new rear addition and the kitchen finishes.
Tell us about the colour palette
The dark, moody palette was chosen to create a sense of intimacy. The client wanted to have a cosy and intimate setting for dinner and drinks, and this palette referenced the feeling of being at a bar or restaurant, without feeling too commercial. It also helped create the snug feel they wanted.
The dark, moody palette was chosen to create a sense of intimacy. The client wanted to have a cosy and intimate setting for dinner and drinks, and this palette referenced the feeling of being at a bar or restaurant, without feeling too commercial. It also helped create the snug feel they wanted.
Dining room before works.
Dining area after works.
How important was indoor-outdoor connection?
Very. The corner sliding doors create a great shared opening with the living, dining and outdoor entertaining spaces. All of the thresholds in the dwelling are flush with no lips or steps – something that was critically important to both myself and the client.
How important was indoor-outdoor connection?
Very. The corner sliding doors create a great shared opening with the living, dining and outdoor entertaining spaces. All of the thresholds in the dwelling are flush with no lips or steps – something that was critically important to both myself and the client.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The coordination of the structure, cabinetry and other utilities to achieve the sleek, clean lines we wanted was challenging. Many chats with trades and consultants were required to get the finished product right.
The coordination of the structure, cabinetry and other utilities to achieve the sleek, clean lines we wanted was challenging. Many chats with trades and consultants were required to get the finished product right.
How do the old and new parts of the house relate?
There is a natural step-down to the addition, which creates a break between the old and new sections of the home. There is also a light court that allows you to look back at the traditional section of the house, which I think is a nice moment.
There is a natural step-down to the addition, which creates a break between the old and new sections of the home. There is also a light court that allows you to look back at the traditional section of the house, which I think is a nice moment.
The original alfresco dining area.
The new dining area sits between the lightwell and the alfresco entertaining area, with full-height glazing on both sides.
What are the defining features of the house now?
The access to natural light at all times of day is quite unique. It’s not often you get a project that will sacrifice rooms for more garden space. This house has an amazing connection to the landscape – you can feel the seasons and times of day more than in any other house I have designed.
While very light-filled, the dark and moody interior palette makes it a very cosy home. It is luxurious without being ostentatious.
What are the defining features of the house now?
The access to natural light at all times of day is quite unique. It’s not often you get a project that will sacrifice rooms for more garden space. This house has an amazing connection to the landscape – you can feel the seasons and times of day more than in any other house I have designed.
While very light-filled, the dark and moody interior palette makes it a very cosy home. It is luxurious without being ostentatious.
Why do you think it works so well?
The design is a success because it was built on simple ideas: access to light, clean simple forms, and rich textures. We really focused on getting those right.
The design is a success because it was built on simple ideas: access to light, clean simple forms, and rich textures. We really focused on getting those right.
The main bathroom.
Interior palette
- Signorino Tile Gallery benchtops and tiles in main bathroom.
- Signorino Tile Gallery benchtops in kitchen.
- Colorbond Night Sky exterior cladding.
- Dulux Terrace White and Dulux Lexicon Half used in the interior.
- Dulux Lexicon Half used on the exterior.
The main ensuite.
Fixtures and furniture
Fixtures and furniture
- Lights Lights Lights George Nelson lighting in the main bedroom (pictured below).
- Ethnicraft bed in the main bedroom.
- Hallett Stonemason Lopi fireplace in the living area.
- Faucet Strommen Pegasi tap and shower in the main bathroom.
- Faucet Strommen Pegasi tap in the kitchen.
- Omvivo Lune 1700 bath in the main bathroom.
- About Space Lighting in the main bathroom.
- Designer Doorware door hardware in the original part of the house.
- Franke kitchen sink.
- Miele and Fisher & Paykel kitchen appliances.
- Simple Form Muuto bar stools in the kitchen.
The main ensuite.
- Jardan sofa, armchair, lamp and rug in the living area.
- Radar Fitzroy vintage sideboards in the living area and dining room.
- Greg Wood artwork in the living area and dining room.
- King Living dining table.
- Huset Muuto Under the Bell pendant in the dining room.
- Eco Outdoor outdoor dining setting.
- Buzzby & Fang handcrafted pots.
Your turn
Do you love what the building designer has done here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another great renovation? Don’t miss this story – All About Contrast: A Sun-Drenched Modern Addition to an Old Home
Do you love what the building designer has done here? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another great renovation? Don’t miss this story – All About Contrast: A Sun-Drenched Modern Addition to an Old Home
Who lives here: A couple with two dogs
Location: Footscray, Victoria
House size before works: 175 square metres
House size after works: 220 square metres (the new rear extension measures 107 square metres)
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms, one bathroom
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Budget: Around AU$600,000
Building designer: DOOD Studio
Builder: DB Urban
Kitchen: Wattle Valley Kitchens
Window furnishings: A&B Interiors