Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: The Brady Bunch Makes a Victorian Terrace Their Own
A neglected inner-city terrace makes room for a blended family of eight
It was love at first sight for Jenny Stevens when she spotted a charming late-1800s Victorian terrace for sale in Glebe, a trendy suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, despite it being in a state of disrepair. It was dark and cold inside, structurally unsound and had a bad case of rising damp. “The house had been neglected and was in desperate need of some tender loving care,” says designer Charles Alexiou, managing director of architectural design firm Pappas Alexiou.
Stevens and her partner Justin Vaughan had high hopes for the property. As well as opening it up to the light, they wanted the home to be able to accommodate their six teenage children (three each) with a long wish list of features. Needless to say, every bit of space had to be put to use to meet the brief, a challenging but ultimately rewarding project – further constrained by a shared wall and roof with the neighbour, and a narrow site.
Stevens and her partner Justin Vaughan had high hopes for the property. As well as opening it up to the light, they wanted the home to be able to accommodate their six teenage children (three each) with a long wish list of features. Needless to say, every bit of space had to be put to use to meet the brief, a challenging but ultimately rewarding project – further constrained by a shared wall and roof with the neighbour, and a narrow site.
The front of the home was in reasonable condition, but the blue and maroon colour scheme made it look dated. The house is located in a Heritage Conservation Area, so the decorative front and rear original cast-iron balustrades, decorative friezes and common chimneys had to remain.
The other challenge was having a land size of just 150 square metres. The house also shares a common wall and roof with the adjoining terrace.
The other challenge was having a land size of just 150 square metres. The house also shares a common wall and roof with the adjoining terrace.
The classic Victorian front door was painted barnyard red as a nod to the Victorian origins of the home.
Lighting: Inlite
Lighting: Inlite
Jenny has three children aged 17, 15 and 12, and Justin has three children aged 19, 17 and 13. The tradespeople working on the house affectionately referred to the family as The Brady Bunch.
Designer Charles Alexiou says the client wish list was extensive, despite the home’s narrow proportions. As well as seamless integration of indoor/outdoor living spaces and more natural light, they wanted a plunge pool and spa, carport, garden and vegetable patch, and storage for bicycles.
Four bedrooms were required, plus the ability to create a guest room. The family also wanted three bathrooms and a guest powder room, a new kitchen with an island bench, and an outdoor barbecue off the kitchen. They wanted a separate dining room with seating for eight, a living/lounge room and separate TV/media/family room, and a separate games room to fit the billiard table.
They then also wanted to replace the dangerous staircase between levels one and two, add in a wine cellar, study/media room for the parents, and a laundry. They wanted ducted multi-zoned air-conditioning throughout, plus soundproofing, plenty of storage and privacy. That’s quite a wish list for a small space!
Pool: Swim Spa Plunge Pool
Designer Charles Alexiou says the client wish list was extensive, despite the home’s narrow proportions. As well as seamless integration of indoor/outdoor living spaces and more natural light, they wanted a plunge pool and spa, carport, garden and vegetable patch, and storage for bicycles.
Four bedrooms were required, plus the ability to create a guest room. The family also wanted three bathrooms and a guest powder room, a new kitchen with an island bench, and an outdoor barbecue off the kitchen. They wanted a separate dining room with seating for eight, a living/lounge room and separate TV/media/family room, and a separate games room to fit the billiard table.
They then also wanted to replace the dangerous staircase between levels one and two, add in a wine cellar, study/media room for the parents, and a laundry. They wanted ducted multi-zoned air-conditioning throughout, plus soundproofing, plenty of storage and privacy. That’s quite a wish list for a small space!
Pool: Swim Spa Plunge Pool
Before work began, Alexiou says the home was in “extremely poor” condition and “barely inhabitable”.
“It was dark, cold, had rising damp and was structurally unsound; it even had a passionfruit vine growing through the rear facade,” he says.
“It was dark, cold, had rising damp and was structurally unsound; it even had a passionfruit vine growing through the rear facade,” he says.
“We redesigned rear facade with larger openings for more natural light, raised the deck to incorporate a plunge pool, and specified window fins for acoustic and visual privacy,” says Alexiou.
“We reused the existing carport, added a storage unit with a bicycle hanging system and created a garden area between the carport and pool.”
“We reused the existing carport, added a storage unit with a bicycle hanging system and created a garden area between the carport and pool.”
The dining room is at street level, accessed from the hallway leading from the front door.
White walls and ceilings enhance the feeling of space and light in the home. Burnt orange and rust highlights create a vibrant and contemporary feel. The pendant light above the dining table is a Christopher Boots Prometheus, with hand-picked crystals.
Replica Eero Saarinen Fibreglass Tulip Chairs in custom orange wool cushion, and replica Eero Saarinen Oval Tulip Dining Table in Marble: Matt Blatt; walls and ceiling painted in ‘Natural White’: Dulux
White walls and ceilings enhance the feeling of space and light in the home. Burnt orange and rust highlights create a vibrant and contemporary feel. The pendant light above the dining table is a Christopher Boots Prometheus, with hand-picked crystals.
Replica Eero Saarinen Fibreglass Tulip Chairs in custom orange wool cushion, and replica Eero Saarinen Oval Tulip Dining Table in Marble: Matt Blatt; walls and ceiling painted in ‘Natural White’: Dulux
The dining room adjoins the kitchen, filled with light thanks to a new opening between the kitchen and lounge and the decorative glazed breeze bricks.
‘Pantalla’ White Gloss glazed breeze bricks: Skheme; Saddle Counter Stools in solid walnut: Matt Blatt
‘Pantalla’ White Gloss glazed breeze bricks: Skheme; Saddle Counter Stools in solid walnut: Matt Blatt
The engineered quartz kitchen bench extends outside to a small balcony with built-in barbecue. The upright fridge/freezer (right) is supplemented by a large fridge drawer.
Ice Snow’ benchtop: Caesarstone; kitchen manufacturer: C & C Kitchens
Ice Snow’ benchtop: Caesarstone; kitchen manufacturer: C & C Kitchens
A sunken lounge offers privacy and city views. The steep staircase between levels one and two was redesigned and replaced with a small landing towards the bottom of the stairs, with access to a guest powder room. The same floor-to-ceiling breeze bricks as in the kitchen were used to act as a balustrade, partition and feature wall.
Acacia wood Turn Collection coffee tables: Blu Dot
Acacia wood Turn Collection coffee tables: Blu Dot
The bedrooms, sunken lounge room and games/billiard room were carpeted and the lounges custom made. Although there are just four bedrooms in the house, it was designed to be flexible enough to be able to accommodate sleepovers and multiple house guests.
“The children share their time between their respective parents but on occasions when they all converge, there is ample room,” says Alexiou. “The sunroom was designed and modular furniture chosen to be easily converted to comfortably sleep two; the sunken lounge room comfortably sleeps three; and the media/games/library area can easily sleep another two to four people.”
“The children share their time between their respective parents but on occasions when they all converge, there is ample room,” says Alexiou. “The sunroom was designed and modular furniture chosen to be easily converted to comfortably sleep two; the sunken lounge room comfortably sleeps three; and the media/games/library area can easily sleep another two to four people.”
Hardwood timber floors, high ceilings, ornate ceiling roses an lead-pressed ceilings are common features in Victorian houses, and this one was no exception. “Where possible, we retained and made good the rich timber floorboards and the stair balustrades,” says Alexiou. The space under the stairs houses a mini bar and cellar.
Here is the same staircase before the renovation. The bedroom at the end of the hall became the sunken lounge.
The designers were inspired by the home’s original features and injected Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern influences into the interior design. “We created a unique look and feel that was fun and inviting, warm and friendly, understated yet contemporary and elegant. The home is functional and practical, edgy yet stylish and true to the clients’ unique aesthetic taste,” says Alexiou. “It got the approval from the clients and, most importantly, the children.”
Bathroom tiles: Di Lorenzo Tiles
Bathroom tiles: Di Lorenzo Tiles
Downstairs is a double bedroom and bathroom, powder room, billiard room and another sunken TV/sunroom, which flows onto the deck. The decommissioned chimneys were repurposed to house the home’s mechanical and hydraulic services.
On the third level, the awkward, oversized sitting room was reworked to add a bathroom and this study, which opens to the verandah at the front of the home. The space also allowed for a full bathroom for the two bedrooms on this level.
“The study, bathroom and bedrooms repeat the colours and textures of the sunken lounge room and dining room on level two,” says Alexiou.
The understair space on this level was used for the laundry facilities.
“The study, bathroom and bedrooms repeat the colours and textures of the sunken lounge room and dining room on level two,” says Alexiou.
The understair space on this level was used for the laundry facilities.
On the fourth level, the owners wanted a master bedroom with a double ensuite and views that could be enjoyed from the bed.
The designers rebuilt the dormer to maximise head space, insulation, views and natural light, using the roof space adjoining the dormer to extend the floor space and incorporate an ensuite.
All four bedrooms are carpeted.
Carpet: Tsar Carpets; custom bedhead: Upholstery Worx
The designers rebuilt the dormer to maximise head space, insulation, views and natural light, using the roof space adjoining the dormer to extend the floor space and incorporate an ensuite.
All four bedrooms are carpeted.
Carpet: Tsar Carpets; custom bedhead: Upholstery Worx
“We flipped the bed around to include a large wardrobe and mirrored the wardrobe doors to reflect the city view while in bed,” says Alexiou.
“The blue and white tiles and their random pattern were chosen to induce the exotic feel of a Turkish bath house,” says Alexiou.
“The porcelain bathroom tiles were laid continuously up the walls to create a feeling of space with no clear demarcation between floor and walls,” says Alexiou.
Omvivo Neo 1400mm-wide basin, and Methven Minimalist Basin Mixers: Reece
Omvivo Neo 1400mm-wide basin, and Methven Minimalist Basin Mixers: Reece
The first floor, at ground level, is home to a double bedroom, bathroom, billiards room and sunken lounge, which leads out to the deck and plunge pool.
At street level is the dining room, kitchen and another sunken lounge.
The next floor up has two bedrooms, a bathroom, an under-stair laundry and a study for the grown-ups.
The top floor is dedicated to the master suite.
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More
Want more great design? Take a look at last week’s My Houzz: A Creative Collector’s Home Bursting With Personality
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Want more great design? Take a look at last week’s My Houzz: A Creative Collector’s Home Bursting With Personality
Who lives here: Jenny Stevens and Justin Vaughan, both medical professionals, and their six teenage children, along with Rusty, the schnoodle
Location: Glebe, NSW
Size: Land size, 150 square metres. Interior size over four levels, 225 square metres
Architect and interior designer: Pappas Alexiou
Builder: Stallion Property Group
Victorian terrace houses are a common sight in the sought-after inner-city suburb of Glebe. The architect restored the facade and modernised the exterior colours.