Rise And Shine

An Edwardian-style home is given a modern refresh that is sympathetic to its original design

Smart copper cladding and a fresh layout have turned a gentleman’s residence into a polished city pad. This late-Edwardian home was bought by a young couple in 1957 and has remained in the family ever since. Located in a wide and leafy street, the property is now home to their son, Hugh, who shares it with his faithful dog Fergus, a white West Highland terrier. Hugh was seven when he moved in, but vividly remembers the home’s original features and garden setting. “There was a huge gum tree out the back, overshadowing the Hills Hoist [rotary clothesline],” he says.

When Hugh decided to renovate in 2014, the garden was again on his mind, but this time it was all about access. He commissioned architect Jane Riddell to rework the 1920 house and open up what was previously a rabbit warren of rooms to the garden. “Having a greater connection to the terrace and green space was one of the few things we discussed initially. The streetscape is heritage-listed so we had to be mindful of that, too, but otherwise I was completely open to her ideas,” Hugh says.