Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Darlinghurst Dwelling's Raw and Honest Renovation
This renovated inner-city terrace maintains its historical appeal while being more functional, comfortable and sheltered
Darlinghurst, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, has had a chequered past and reputation over the decades, but it has undoubtedly contributed to the character of the area. These days, it is a sought-after place to live, with workers’ cottages, Victorian terraces and converted garages edging its tree-lined streets.
While many of the historical buildings have been transformed into contemporary and cutting-edge abodes, this particular Darlinghurst dwelling, renovated by Sydney architecture practice Pidcock, retains all its charm and character while now being vastly more functional and comfortable. The floor plan of the home was redesigned to create a better sense of flow from space to space, suiting the new owners’ love of entertaining, and materials taken from original structures were reused and repurposed to preserve the home’s history and sense of place.
While many of the historical buildings have been transformed into contemporary and cutting-edge abodes, this particular Darlinghurst dwelling, renovated by Sydney architecture practice Pidcock, retains all its charm and character while now being vastly more functional and comfortable. The floor plan of the home was redesigned to create a better sense of flow from space to space, suiting the new owners’ love of entertaining, and materials taken from original structures were reused and repurposed to preserve the home’s history and sense of place.
“Our clients’ key desire was to rationalise and open up their inner-city terrace home to their own site and improved garden,” says architect and director Caroline Pidcock. “The renovation needed to fix the shortcomings while maintaining and improving the best of the house and its location. It was also quickly identified that the house had a certain charm, with sandstone and brickwork contributing to a wonderful historical character.”
The front door of the house opens to a living room full of original charm and character.
Before the renovation, the existing house had a poorly planned and built rear extension (that leaked) and an inadequate kitchen. Pidcock’s first step was to assess how the various spaces in the house flowed into one another, noting where they facilitated movement and where they didn’t.
A more efficient spatial plan resulted from the redesign, allowing for easier transition between spaces. “The clients love to entertain,” Pidcock says, “and the layout had to foster casual and friendly interactions. The aim was to provide a series of spaces that open the ground floor kitchen and living areas to each other and the garden.”
A more efficient spatial plan resulted from the redesign, allowing for easier transition between spaces. “The clients love to entertain,” Pidcock says, “and the layout had to foster casual and friendly interactions. The aim was to provide a series of spaces that open the ground floor kitchen and living areas to each other and the garden.”
“From the very beginning there was a focus on proposed materials; they had to be simple, honest and raw,” says Pidcock.
As such, the existing exposed brickwork walls and timber flooring have been retained. A gas fire was added into the existing fireplace, and joinery built in on either side. A raised hearth in front of the fireplace doubles as extra seating for guests.
Mid-century furniture, lighting and objects enhance the home’s sense of history and reflect the clients’ interest in colour and design. “The clients have a great sense of colour, and were willing to experiment in different spaces,” Pidcock says.
The living room leads to the kitchen positioned in the centre of the ground floor. This is a busy space and has been designed as an easily navigated hub. Surrounding this energetic core are quieter living spaces, purpose-built as calmer, more restful areas that support privacy and personal time as much as socialisation.
Indeed, every room has been located and designed to be a space that can be moved through, but that is also a haven from movement. This is evident in the kitchen, where a passage on one side of the island bench can be freely and easily moved through, and the cooking and preparatory space on the other side of the kitchen island is away from the thoroughfare of passersby.
A wine rack has been built into the former fireplace, and a picture window brings light into the space and offers views to the garden outside.
A wine rack has been built into the former fireplace, and a picture window brings light into the space and offers views to the garden outside.
The dining room has also been relocated and is now situated in a new room that opens to the covered terrace and garden. Flexibility was an important factor throughout the renovation, and the living and dining rooms have been designed to be able to be interchangeable, depending on the couple’s needs.
As seen here, the dining room is furnished with a mid-century table and Grant Featherston’s classic D350 chairs.
As seen here, the dining room is furnished with a mid-century table and Grant Featherston’s classic D350 chairs.
Behind the dining area, the stairs between the ground and first floor have been upgraded with improved lighting and a timber screen in place of the handrail.
Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and a bathroom. One bedroom is on the first floor and the other is in the attic.
The pitched roof of the attic bedroom creates interesting architectural and spatial features, while a newly added dormer window filters natural light into the room.
The bathroom was previously located at the rear on the ground floor, but has been moved to a former walk-through room upstairs, which allows for a corridor to the rear dressing room and terrace.
Like the living room, the bathroom reflects the residents’ interest in colour with vibrant orange joinery complemented by Moroccan tiles.
Like the living room, the bathroom reflects the residents’ interest in colour with vibrant orange joinery complemented by Moroccan tiles.
Back downstairs, a narrow room accommodating a shower/bath has been added to sit off the undercover terrace. “It is enclosed with recycled bricks and coloured glass louvres to bring warmth and delight,” Pidcock says.
Outside, a shaded garden sits underneath the first-floor terrace. “We created this space so that it feels part of the surrounding garden, while being very private, and able to be used in all weather,” Pidcock says.
Certainly privacy was a key concern in such a densely housed neighbourhood, with many houses and apartments overlooking the garden and windows.
Certainly privacy was a key concern in such a densely housed neighbourhood, with many houses and apartments overlooking the garden and windows.
The materials used outside are as raw and honest as those featured inside the house, and have been taken from the original structure and reused wherever possible. Timber shingles salvaged from the original roof now enclose the water tank in the garden, and a large timber beam from the rear extension serves as a garden seat.
Warm, natural materials, each with their own sense of history, help to make the garden a natural, nurturing oasis in the inner-city suburb. It is a place for the couple to retreat to when they need to relax and recharge.
Who lives here: A couple with their dog, Phoenix, and occasional visitors
Location: Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
Renovation: 2016
Size: 173 square metres; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms; garage/studio (not pictured) with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Architect: Pidcock
Landscape design: Georgina Reid, The Plant Hunter
Landscape construction: Michael Fisher, Earthtone