Respecting the street’s heritage, the charming gabled façade was retained. But beneath, behind and above, the four-bedroom residence is confidently contemporary. Chiselled out of sandstone, the subterranean strata has a garage, cellar, rumpus and laundry. While the mid-level hosts the bay-windowed master suite and expansive living areas oriented north toward a Jamie Durie-designed rear courtyard.

Nestled within Sydney’s historic Millers Point, this 1860s Victorian terrace has been reimagined as a serene family sanctuary—where patina-rich surfaces meet contemporary elegance. The curated interiors tell a story of history-infused maximalism, where every layer reveals a detail in service of heritage, emotion, and craft. Lorena Gaxiola’s poetic vision was to celebrate the family’s tri-cultural identity through salvaged timbers, artisanal finishes, and restrained yet expressive craftsmanship. From reinstated cornices to hand-finished brass accents and kauri floorboards, each intervention evokes a dialogue between past and present. Realising that vision required deft navigation of significant constraints: extensive structural damage from decades of water ingress and termites, heritage restrictions that demanded visual continuity, and tight access that challenged the logistics of modern construction. As designers, we oversaw every detail—from heritage review and documentation to construction coordination and bespoke installations. Threading new electrical, climate, and plumbing systems through fragile timber bones took surgical precision. Yet the results were seamless: original chandeliers revived, floorboards restored or matched with reclaimed timber, and American oak joinery paired with brass trims and marble mosaics brought new life to tired volumes. Design decisions were driven by sustainability, narrative, and craftsmanship. Custom pieces were commissioned from masters in their field—such as Lowe Furniture’s bespoke creations and a custom mural by Indigenous artist Danie Mellor, which pays homage to the family’s cultural roots. Each space was approached with emotion and intentionality, particularly the bathrooms which the client described simply and joyfully as: “The bathrooms make me happy.” Every room in the home unfolds like a story—patterned tiles, textured stone, and layered materials come together to offer intimate moments of discovery. Our commitment extended from spatial planning to final flourishes. We handled styling, soft furnishing installation, custom window treatments, and every curated object. Furniture was sourced locally, materials were salvaged when possible, and thoughtful detailing elevated every corner. The result is a timeless, emotionally resonant home—one that celebrates craftsmanship, elevates functionality, and preserves a precious piece of Sydney’s architectural legacy for generations to come.

Our main bathroom at our #NewSpacesxMonash project is simple in design, but packs a punch on functionality and space. Storage to service three kids as they grow was imperative, so the bathroom features a massive 1800mm custom vanity by @topshelf joinery including tall cabinet. A ‘wet-area’ design encompasses both the back-to-wall bath and shower space, with a hand-held shower positioned between for ease of cleaning, especially for the kids in the bath on hair washing night! This open shower design also means less shower screens to keep clean

Reece- Hunting For George Lorne Beach House

This Bella Vista pergola area adds a new dimension to the home. Sitting conveniently next to the in-ground pool, it is furnished with comfortable outdoor lounge seating, 10-seat dining table, and a woodfire pizza oven. Opening Roof Specialists gave special attention to all the finishing touches. The natural pergola colour scheme is matched to its surroundings, making it a calming and harmonious space to be in. Complete with LED lights, ceiling fan, and motorised opening louvres, entertaining guests by the poolside has never been more luxurious!

Kitchen & Dining Room

To meet the client‘s brief and maintain the character of the house it was decided to retain the existing timber framed windows and VJ timber walling above tiles. The client loves green and yellow, so a patterned floor tile including these colours was selected, with two complimentry subway tiles used for the walls up to the picture rail. The feature green tile used in the back of the shower. A playful bold vinyl wallpaper was installed in the bathroom and above the dado rail in the toilet. The corner back to wall bath, brushed gold tapware and accessories, wall hung custom vanity with Davinci Blanco stone bench top, teardrop clearstone basin, circular mirrored shaving cabinet and antique brass wall sconces finished off the look. The picture rail in the high section was painted in white to match the wall tiles and the above VJ‘s were painted in Dulux Triamble to match the custom vanity 2 pak finish. This colour framed the small room and with the high ceilings softened the space and made it more intimate. The timber window architraves were retained, whereas the architraves around the entry door were painted white to match the wall tiles. The adjacent toilet was changed to an in wall cistern and pan with tiles, wallpaper, accessories and wall sconces to match the bathroom Overall, the design allowed open easy access, modernised the space and delivered the wow factor that the client was seeking.