Architecture
Before & After
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Before & After: A Derelict Semi Gets a Cost-Effective Upgrade
See how an architect turned a dilapidated Federation terrace on a slender block into a functional family home
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, Luke Carter, architect and director at Sandbox Studio, shares how he turned a dark, worn-down and narrow heritage home into a light-filled stunner with plenty of space for a family – and all on a fairly tight budget.
The house before works.
What was the house like originally?
A single-storey Federation dwelling in a dilapidated state with a five-metre-wide brick frontage.
Itching to renovate? Find a local architect on Houzz to help make it happen
What was the house like originally?
A single-storey Federation dwelling in a dilapidated state with a five-metre-wide brick frontage.
Itching to renovate? Find a local architect on Houzz to help make it happen
The house after works.
How did you use Houzz for this project?
At the start of the project, our client shared some inspiration images with us using Houzz Ideabooks. We always like to start searching for reference images early in the design process and Houzz helps to facilitate and streamline this.
What is your favourite Houzz feature?
The Houzz app is handy for when we’re meeting on-site or on-the-go. Also, being able to collect and share Ideabooks with clients is a useful tool.
How did you use Houzz for this project?
At the start of the project, our client shared some inspiration images with us using Houzz Ideabooks. We always like to start searching for reference images early in the design process and Houzz helps to facilitate and streamline this.
What is your favourite Houzz feature?
The Houzz app is handy for when we’re meeting on-site or on-the-go. Also, being able to collect and share Ideabooks with clients is a useful tool.
The floor plan before works.
What wasn’t working for the client about the house originally?
The existing dwelling was in an extremely dilapidated state – it was basically uninhabitable. Additionally, the layout wasn’t large enough for a family and there was no connection to the rear garden. The house was also very dark and cold.
What wasn’t working for the client about the house originally?
The existing dwelling was in an extremely dilapidated state – it was basically uninhabitable. Additionally, the layout wasn’t large enough for a family and there was no connection to the rear garden. The house was also very dark and cold.
The floor plan after works.
What did you identify as the main issues?
The dilapidated structural condition, cramped planning and lack of natural light.
What did you identify as the main issues?
The dilapidated structural condition, cramped planning and lack of natural light.
The house before works.
What was your brief?
The client requested a full renovation and asked us to create additional space that was sufficient for a family home.
They also wanted to maximise natural light throughout.
What was your brief?
The client requested a full renovation and asked us to create additional space that was sufficient for a family home.
They also wanted to maximise natural light throughout.
The house after works.
What were their must-haves?
What were their must-haves?
- A minimum of three bedrooms.
- A bedroom suite for the owners.
- An open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
- A space-saving European laundry.
- General upgrade and refurbishment to the interior and exterior.
What exactly did you do?
- Reconfigured the ground-floor plan.
- Extended the ground floor to provide two new bedrooms, a bathroom and an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
- Added a new first floor, housing the main bedroom suite and study.
- Restored the heritage facade.
- New landscaping to the rear and front courtyards.
- Added a northern courtyard.
- Added an aperture above the stairs to draw natural light into the home.
The rear before works.
What was the budget?
Around $450,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the significant, but necessary, structural work.
What was the budget?
Around $450,000.
Where did most of it go?
On the significant, but necessary, structural work.
The rear after works.
Tell us about the rear courtyard
The courtyard was an important inclusion in the design. It creates a private, functional space and also brings natural sunlight and ventilation into the home.
See more inspiring images of Australian outdoor spaces on Houzz
Tell us about the rear courtyard
The courtyard was an important inclusion in the design. It creates a private, functional space and also brings natural sunlight and ventilation into the home.
See more inspiring images of Australian outdoor spaces on Houzz
The living room before works.
The living room after works.
Where did you save?
The client saved some of the overall costs by managing the build themselves as an owner-builder, which can be a time-consuming, yet rewarding, experience.
Where did you save?
The client saved some of the overall costs by managing the build themselves as an owner-builder, which can be a time-consuming, yet rewarding, experience.
What was the biggest splurge?
Probably the kitchen, which features unique Verde Chambray marble benchtops and splashback, high-quality appliances and a wine fridge.
Probably the kitchen, which features unique Verde Chambray marble benchtops and splashback, high-quality appliances and a wine fridge.
How did you keep the budget in check?
- We retained the existing structure where possible.
- We renovated the ground-floor bathroom in-situ and kept the plumbing in its original locations.
- We used higher-end and more expensive tiles on the bathroom floors as these are high-traffic spots, and laid more cost-effective ceramic tiles on the walls (I believe it’s better to use higher-quality finishes and fixtures in areas that are susceptible to the most wear and tear, such as floors, benchtops, tapware and appliances).
The bedroom before works.
The bedroom after works.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
The exterior material palette included painted brickwork and exposed concrete, which were chosen to be neutral and complementary to the existing dwelling.
The interior palette was focused around timber floorboards and light-coloured walls and joinery to allow the exposed brickwork to really stand out.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
The exterior material palette included painted brickwork and exposed concrete, which were chosen to be neutral and complementary to the existing dwelling.
The interior palette was focused around timber floorboards and light-coloured walls and joinery to allow the exposed brickwork to really stand out.
What challenges did you have to work around?
One of the main challenges was creating a contemporary home that complements and celebrates the building’s heritage character.
Being an attached dwelling, access during the build was also a challenge.
One of the main challenges was creating a contemporary home that complements and celebrates the building’s heritage character.
Being an attached dwelling, access during the build was also a challenge.
How does the new work address the issues listed above?
The reconfiguration of the floor plan really opens up and improves the flow of the home.
The addition of the small northern courtyard and large skylight over the stair greatly improves natural light within the home.
The reconfiguration of the floor plan really opens up and improves the flow of the home.
The addition of the small northern courtyard and large skylight over the stair greatly improves natural light within the home.
The new main bedroom suite.
What are the defining features of this house now?
What are the defining features of this house now?
- The open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
- Contemporary main bedroom suite.
- Private rear courtyard.
- The way the design preserves and celebrates the home’s original materials and features, such as the original brickwork and the detailed facade, with contemporary insertions that add a modern refinement.
Why do you think the house works so well now?
It’s a unique home that celebrates the heritage character of the Federation period dwelling, but with a contemporary vibe. While the home takes reference from its origins, it respects the eclectic nature of its context and aims to capture an element of the bohemian spirit in Sydney’s inner-west.
It’s a unique home that celebrates the heritage character of the Federation period dwelling, but with a contemporary vibe. While the home takes reference from its origins, it respects the eclectic nature of its context and aims to capture an element of the bohemian spirit in Sydney’s inner-west.
Interior palette
- Blackbutt flooring.
- Custom steel-and-timber staircase.
- Granite & Marble Works Verde Chambray marble benchtop and splashback.
- Oliveri kitchen sink and tap.
- Vintec wine cabinet.
- Falmec range hood.
- Miele oven and cooktop.
- Acacia freestanding bath from Highgrove Bathrooms.
- Spin tapware from Highgrove Bathrooms.
- Eden basin and shower from Highgrove Bathrooms.
- Omega round brushed-brass shower rail from Highgrove Bathrooms.
- Branch heated towel rail from Highgrove Bathrooms.
Exterior palette
Your turn
Were you as impressed with this renovation as we were? 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 interesting home makeover? Don’t miss this Before & After: A Humble Worker’s Cottage Gets a Serious Glow-Up
- Aluminium framed bi-fold doors.
- James Hardie Scyon Axon cladding.
- Colorbond roof.
- Dulux Windspray and Dulux Tranquil Retreat to the exterior.
- Dulux Lexicon Half to the downstairs interior.
- Porter’s Paints Petal Pink to the upstairs interior.
Your turn
Were you as impressed with this renovation as we were? 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 interesting home makeover? Don’t miss this Before & After: A Humble Worker’s Cottage Gets a Serious Glow-Up
Answers by Luke Carter, architect and director at Sandbox Studio.
Who lives here: A young family
Location: Enmore, NSW
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Two bedrooms and one bathroom
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study
Storeys before works: One
Storeys after works: Two
Size before works: Around 76 square metres
Size after works: Around 120 square metres
Budget: Around $450,000
Architect: Sandbox Studio
Builder: Owner-builder
Interior designer: Hatch Interiors & Design