Project Of The Week
Renovating
Decorating
Blurred Lines: A Drab Townhouse is Transformed With Light & Flow
Indoor-outdoor connection and a fresh, contemporary feel were the focuses of a Melbourne townhouse's redesign
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, Michael Montgomery, principal architect at MMAD Architecture, reveals how he added light, indoor-outdoor flow and a contemporary feel to a three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhouse.
The kitchen before works; image from Hockingstuart
What was the house like before works?
It was one of a pair of two-storey townhouses that was typical of builds in the early 2000s. It had a decent floor plan, which is what drew the clients to purchase it, but the interiors were bland.
Looking for an architect? Find one near you on Houzz
What was the house like before works?
It was one of a pair of two-storey townhouses that was typical of builds in the early 2000s. It had a decent floor plan, which is what drew the clients to purchase it, but the interiors were bland.
Looking for an architect? Find one near you on Houzz
The exterior before works; image from Hockingstuart
What wasn’t working for the client?
The original footprint took advantage of a central courtyard that provided north-facing and private outdoor space. The courtyard also meant the house was well set-up for separate zones, front and back, which provided acoustic separation.
This is what the client saw worked well for the house. We focused on breathing new life into the spaces to improve the flow and connections between front and back, upstairs and downstairs.
The street-front appeal was modern but didn’t take advantage of the beautiful tree-lined aspect of the road.
What wasn’t working for the client?
The original footprint took advantage of a central courtyard that provided north-facing and private outdoor space. The courtyard also meant the house was well set-up for separate zones, front and back, which provided acoustic separation.
This is what the client saw worked well for the house. We focused on breathing new life into the spaces to improve the flow and connections between front and back, upstairs and downstairs.
The street-front appeal was modern but didn’t take advantage of the beautiful tree-lined aspect of the road.
Brief
As the client Richard Blackman is an interior designer, he knew the house had potential. Both occupants were keen to breathe a new classic-contemporary feel into the townhouse and improve both the standard of accommodation and the link between inside and out. “We often said it had good bones but was being held back by a tired and drab outfit,” said Blackman.
Blackman worked on the interiors and his partner assisted in project managing the renovation.
As the client Richard Blackman is an interior designer, he knew the house had potential. Both occupants were keen to breathe a new classic-contemporary feel into the townhouse and improve both the standard of accommodation and the link between inside and out. “We often said it had good bones but was being held back by a tired and drab outfit,” said Blackman.
Blackman worked on the interiors and his partner assisted in project managing the renovation.
The original floor plan
What was gained with the new works?
The original footprint of the house was designed with good intentions of providing natural light in the middle of the house by positioning the courtyard centrally. However, it fell short of truly improving the quality of the interiors with poor choices and locations of windows.
The general arrangement was kept mostly the same, with improvements to the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. We also consolidated the upstairs toilet and bathroom to provide a larger, more useable central bathroom, while improving the bedroom sizes to allow for more wardrobe storage.
What was gained with the new works?
The original footprint of the house was designed with good intentions of providing natural light in the middle of the house by positioning the courtyard centrally. However, it fell short of truly improving the quality of the interiors with poor choices and locations of windows.
The general arrangement was kept mostly the same, with improvements to the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. We also consolidated the upstairs toilet and bathroom to provide a larger, more useable central bathroom, while improving the bedroom sizes to allow for more wardrobe storage.
The floor plan after minor works
The most important change was the introduction of larger floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors that allowed the central courtyard to truly provide indoor-outdoor connection.
Combined with the inclusion of a large motorised gas-lift window in the kitchen that opens onto the outdoor bench seating, it allowed the entire middle part of the house to be connected and feel much larger.
The most important change was the introduction of larger floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors that allowed the central courtyard to truly provide indoor-outdoor connection.
Combined with the inclusion of a large motorised gas-lift window in the kitchen that opens onto the outdoor bench seating, it allowed the entire middle part of the house to be connected and feel much larger.
What exactly did you do?
- Revamped the existing townhouse from top to bottom and inside to outside to create a contemporary and inviting home in what was an underwhelming generic townhouse.
- Retained the existing footprint and made key improvements to the flow of the house.
- The main reworks of the plans were located around the wet areas; rearranging the ensuite and wardrobe spaces and consolidating the central bathroom into one larger room.
- Improved the kitchen by squaring up an awkward, splayed wall by adding some external space and stealing some internal space.
- The exterior of the house, in particular the streetscape and the central courtyard, were visually transformed with new claddings and material selections.
What was the budget?
Approximately $450,000.
Where did most of it go?
Recladding the facade and replacing all the windows.
Approximately $450,000.
Where did most of it go?
Recladding the facade and replacing all the windows.
What challenges did you have to work around?
Realising the entire cladding needed to be removed as it had reached its lifespan. Although this meant spending more money, it opened up the opportunities to fully revitalise the townhouse.
I think the result wouldn’t have been as good had we not decided to reclad the entire building.
Realising the entire cladding needed to be removed as it had reached its lifespan. Although this meant spending more money, it opened up the opportunities to fully revitalise the townhouse.
I think the result wouldn’t have been as good had we not decided to reclad the entire building.
How do the new works complement or contrast with the original home?
The original house had a very good floor plan that was obviously designed to take advantage of the northern aspect to provide connection between indoors and outdoors, as well as trying to maximise northern light. But it fell short with some poor choices of flat, dark materials and window sizes and locations that were poorly positioned.
The original house had a very good floor plan that was obviously designed to take advantage of the northern aspect to provide connection between indoors and outdoors, as well as trying to maximise northern light. But it fell short with some poor choices of flat, dark materials and window sizes and locations that were poorly positioned.
The renovation pushed the floor plan to the next level, opening up and maximising new floor-to-ceiling windows and doors onto the courtyard.
The material finishes also inject new levels of life and, more importantly, allow light to bounce around the space, creating a lighter, brighter feel that feels so much more sophisticated and inviting.
The material finishes also inject new levels of life and, more importantly, allow light to bounce around the space, creating a lighter, brighter feel that feels so much more sophisticated and inviting.
How is working on a townhouse different to a freestanding home?
The main difference is there are only one or two key external vantage points to focus on. This has its positives as it means more budget and attention can be spent on the internal improvements.
The main difference is there are only one or two key external vantage points to focus on. This has its positives as it means more budget and attention can be spent on the internal improvements.
The courtyard before works; image from Hockingstuart
The challenge with townhouses is they may require planning permits for certain aspects of the exterior, which can sometimes alter your thinking as some changes might incur time delays while others do not.
Ultimately, the fundamentals are the same internally, whether it’s a townhouse or a freestanding house. When I’m working on renovations of any space I focus on the flow and connections between spaces and how to improve natural light and ventilation.
The challenge with townhouses is they may require planning permits for certain aspects of the exterior, which can sometimes alter your thinking as some changes might incur time delays while others do not.
Ultimately, the fundamentals are the same internally, whether it’s a townhouse or a freestanding house. When I’m working on renovations of any space I focus on the flow and connections between spaces and how to improve natural light and ventilation.
What are the defining features of this townhouse now?
- The street appeal has been hugely transformed – from a plain, drab rendered townhouse it is now an inviting contemporary home.
- The quality of light internally and lines of sight between and across spaces have been vastly improved.
- The indoor-outdoor connection has been greatly improved by simply raising the decking to meet the townhouse and providing multiple openings.
- The overall materials and finishes palate is warm, inviting and layered with different but complementary finishes between spaces.
- Small in nature but big on return was changing the master bedroom window to a larger, single-pane glass piece, which frames the view of the tree-lined street.
- Simple changes – such as removing cornices and square-setting the ceilings, as well as changing architraves and skirtings to simple, sharp-edged styles – help set the tone for a contemporary home by simplifying and removing visual clutter.
The formal living room before works; image from Hockingstuart
The formal living room, which was designed by Richard Blackman, has a luxurious and opulent feel.
Tell us about the glorious fireplace
It was important this room remained the place to either entertain or just escape and relax.
The client and I wanted to retain a fireplace in the front living room. This created a sophisticated room that harks back to the formal reception or sitting rooms of grand homes.
It was important this room remained the place to either entertain or just escape and relax.
The client and I wanted to retain a fireplace in the front living room. This created a sophisticated room that harks back to the formal reception or sitting rooms of grand homes.
The stone was where it all started and then Blackman began discussing options for materials. He sourced veneers from George Fethers who also assisted in creating the custom-finish floorboards.
The open shelving provides a balanced feel to the new fireplace as well as a display point for key decor. The lower storage hides a bar fridge and audio equipment, which are important to any entertaining space for grown-ups.
The open shelving provides a balanced feel to the new fireplace as well as a display point for key decor. The lower storage hides a bar fridge and audio equipment, which are important to any entertaining space for grown-ups.
The powder room
Why do you think the house now works so well?
When working on compact projects, the aim is always to get the most out of every space.
It’s important to create defined areas for public and private or quieter spaces that are blurred at their edges, which connect and gel to form one larger connected area.
The townhouse now achieves this, whether it is the kitchen merging into the dining area or the kitchen opening onto the courtyard.
Why do you think the house now works so well?
When working on compact projects, the aim is always to get the most out of every space.
It’s important to create defined areas for public and private or quieter spaces that are blurred at their edges, which connect and gel to form one larger connected area.
The townhouse now achieves this, whether it is the kitchen merging into the dining area or the kitchen opening onto the courtyard.
Key design aspects
Interior materials palette
Interior materials palette
- CDK Stone stone to the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Floors and joinery veneers by George Fethers.
- Fluted wall cladding to the kitchen, which was custom-routed by the joiner.
- Custom-made gas-lift window (which is fitted with a controlled, motorised opening).
- Brodware tapware.
- Dulux White on White used inside and out.
The master suite
Key furniture
Existing pieces owned by the client.
Key furniture
Existing pieces owned by the client.
The balcony off the master suite
Exterior palette
Exterior palette
- The streetscape was crafted with 50-millimetre aluminium battens painted in Dulux Domino.
- James Hardie Axon sheeting for the cladding, which was painted white.
- Silvertop-ash decking.
The master suite
The ensuite before works; image from Hockingstuart
Tell us what you did with the ensuite
The original ensuite was a large, but poorly arranged, space with a glass-brick window. It had quite a generic feel.
The walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite spaces were completely rearranged. The new arrangement provides for a very large double walk-in shower. A touch of luxury was added with a natural stone vanity.
Tell us what you did with the ensuite
The original ensuite was a large, but poorly arranged, space with a glass-brick window. It had quite a generic feel.
The walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite spaces were completely rearranged. The new arrangement provides for a very large double walk-in shower. A touch of luxury was added with a natural stone vanity.
The ensuite after works
The biggest improvement here was the simplest to do; adding a skylight now floods the ensuite with heaps of natural light, combined with large wall mirrors that make the space feel twice as large.
The biggest improvement here was the simplest to do; adding a skylight now floods the ensuite with heaps of natural light, combined with large wall mirrors that make the space feel twice as large.
What do the fluted accents add to selected doors and windows?
Being an inner-city house with neighbours very close by, the aim is to maximise opportunities for natural light and privacy.
The ribbed or fluted glass doors and windows were strategically located in both new and existing windows. Here, they face a small utility courtyard that is used to house services and the clothes lines. Previously, it was under-utilised and accessed via the laundry, which limited space in the laundry.
We removed a small window in the corner of the living room and installed full-height doors with the fluted glass. This simple change achieved so much, from providing more useable laundry and storage space, better access to the courtyard and much-needed natural light into this part of the living room. It also created privacy from the neighbouring apartment block.
Being an inner-city house with neighbours very close by, the aim is to maximise opportunities for natural light and privacy.
The ribbed or fluted glass doors and windows were strategically located in both new and existing windows. Here, they face a small utility courtyard that is used to house services and the clothes lines. Previously, it was under-utilised and accessed via the laundry, which limited space in the laundry.
We removed a small window in the corner of the living room and installed full-height doors with the fluted glass. This simple change achieved so much, from providing more useable laundry and storage space, better access to the courtyard and much-needed natural light into this part of the living room. It also created privacy from the neighbouring apartment block.
The main bathroom
Your turn
Are you as impressed with this clever redesign as much as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another inspiring renovation? Don’t miss this story – New Look for an Old Charmer: A Time-Warp Bungalow is Transformed
Are you as impressed with this clever redesign as much as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another inspiring renovation? Don’t miss this story – New Look for an Old Charmer: A Time-Warp Bungalow is Transformed
Answers by Michael Montgomery, principal architect at MMAD Architecture
Who lives here: Interior designer Richard Blackman and his partner
Location: Prahran, Victoria
Approximate size: 220 square metres
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room
Architect: MMAD Architecture
Interior designer and stylist: Richard Blackman at Renovate Build Design
Builder: Rebound Constructions
Project management: CIA Services Group