Detail ORIENTED

A wealth of considered elements are the hallmark of the reinvention of this heritage house into a haven of contemporary living for a young family.

- JUDY PASCOE

Light and sunshine sparkle through the bevelled leadlight front door of this heritage home filtering views of the park opposite where frisbees and footballs scoot through the air as kids and dogs frolic.

It’s a chilled atmosphere that pervades the stately c1924 home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, newly refreshed by design studio Partridge Daniels for a family of four. The house, sited within a conservation area, had been occupied by four generations of the same family until its sale to the current owners in 2018. Showcasing all the features of its era – high ceilings, leadlight doors and windows, wide corridors, a deep verandah – the single-storey, sandstone-based house was principally rectangular in form, with a messy 1970s addition of enclosed porch, laundry and bathroom doing the generous site no favours. The previous owners had already received approval for restoration and upgrades to the property which the new owners slightly amended before work began to convert it to an expansive two-storey home.

Natural light and storage were high on the family’s wish list, as well as a harmonious blending of old and new and the use of natural and raw materials including timber, stone and brass. The approved design allowed for a two-storey structure that extends to the rear boundary and hugs the perimeter to the south and east, maximising the northern sun in the central courtyard.