Houzz Tour: A Stylish and Sustainable Family Home With a Retro Edge
This mid-century brick bungalow has been transformed into an energy-efficient and user-friendly home that is just bursting with personality
Situated in a cul-de-sac locally known as ‘Sustainability Street’ because of its commitment to reducing negative environmental impacts, this mid-century brick home needed a stylish renovation that kept sustainability in mind. With homeowners Lucian and Leonie working from home, the couple wanted space for a separate home office, an additional bedroom, and a bathroom fitted with an internal laundry. They also required an open-plan kitchen and family room area that opened out to an ample outdoor space for the kids to play in.
According to project designers Adrian Collins and Anja Michelzahn of Studio 74, the main principles of design were to increase the visual and physical connection to the outdoor landscape in an aesthetically pleasing yet functional way. Rather than completely changing the 19th century home to an unrecognisable state, the designers sought to build on the home’s existing character through the refurbishment and reuse of existing elements. This concept worked in perfect harmony with the other key concept in the design – an eco-conscious design that was fit for the aptly titled street.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: Lucian Pearce, Leonie MacNamara and their children
Location: Dulwich Hill, Sydney
Cost: $275,000 (approx.)
Size: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with open-plan living and dining, sitting room and a home office with separate entry
According to project designers Adrian Collins and Anja Michelzahn of Studio 74, the main principles of design were to increase the visual and physical connection to the outdoor landscape in an aesthetically pleasing yet functional way. Rather than completely changing the 19th century home to an unrecognisable state, the designers sought to build on the home’s existing character through the refurbishment and reuse of existing elements. This concept worked in perfect harmony with the other key concept in the design – an eco-conscious design that was fit for the aptly titled street.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: Lucian Pearce, Leonie MacNamara and their children
Location: Dulwich Hill, Sydney
Cost: $275,000 (approx.)
Size: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with open-plan living and dining, sitting room and a home office with separate entry
Sustainability played a prominent role in all aspects of design and was a consistent theme throughout the design process. A conscious effort was made to salvage onsite materials as much as possible, and for any new additions to have a low carbon footprint.
Materials such as clay bricks, ceramic wall tiles, linoleum floor tiles and cedar floorboards were all incorporated into the new design, simultaneously upcycling and providing a connection to the history of the original home. Features such as a rainwater harvesting system were implemented to allow for water reuse in the laundry, for toilet flushing and garden irrigation.
The interior walls feature a distinctive mixture of bricks that were salvaged from onsite and coloured, glazed bricks.
The salvaged bricks underwent a rough clean off, with many of the pre-existing marks left for effect. “The kids had drawn on some of them over time, so it was lovely to see some of that as part of the wall,” says Anja. All of the recycled bricks were sealed and allow the home to retain a bit of the history of the old house.
Rainbow rug: Lilly Lolly
The salvaged bricks underwent a rough clean off, with many of the pre-existing marks left for effect. “The kids had drawn on some of them over time, so it was lovely to see some of that as part of the wall,” says Anja. All of the recycled bricks were sealed and allow the home to retain a bit of the history of the old house.
Rainbow rug: Lilly Lolly
All new LED light fittings were installed, which source power from a solar system. A passive solar design enabled the use of ceiling fans in all living areas and bedrooms, creating comfort for the family without the need for air conditioning.
The recycled brick walls are one of Anja’s favourite features of the home. “I do love the recycled brick wall with the glazed coloured bricks. It was a real trial when I marked out the pattern for the glazed bricks, but I really love the final product,” says Anja.
“I love little details on joinery. To save cost and be more durable, we chose laminate for all built-in wardrobes but added recycled blackbutt handles that we designed. The same applies to the large pivot doors,” says Anja.
“All interior joinery for the kitchen and study is plywood. We’ve got Woven Image Echopanel everywhere as inboards,” says Anja.
The vibrant yellow colour of the external walls immediately evokes a sense of fun, sun and happiness.
Constructed in a lightweight timber frame and clad in expressed fibre-cement weatherboard cladding, the yellow finish draws attention for all the right reasons.
Constructed in a lightweight timber frame and clad in expressed fibre-cement weatherboard cladding, the yellow finish draws attention for all the right reasons.
The house was opened up towards the rear of the property, creating more of a family-friendly garden that made the most of the northerly aspect of the house. The deck area is ideal for entertaining, while the grass area is the perfect place for the kids to run around.
One of the design challenges for Studio 74 was creating a large enough outdoor space that would feel big enough for the kids to play in.
Panton chairs by Verner Panton for Vitra: Space Furniture
One of the design challenges for Studio 74 was creating a large enough outdoor space that would feel big enough for the kids to play in.
Panton chairs by Verner Panton for Vitra: Space Furniture
BEFORE
Salvaged onsite timber floorboards were fabricated into stunning timber pivot doors to the new side entry, the office and master bedroom.
Salvaged onsite timber floorboards were fabricated into stunning timber pivot doors to the new side entry, the office and master bedroom.
The bathroom has dual access from both indoors and out. This was implemented so that the owners could pop the kids straight into the shower after the had finished playing in the yard to avoid dirt being tracked throughout the home.
Exterior paint colour in ‘Golden Frog’: Taubmans
Exterior paint colour in ‘Golden Frog’: Taubmans
A laundry cupboard was also added to the bathroom so that the laundry could be taken straight from the machine to be hung to dry outside. Thoughtful design features as these can be worth their weight in gold for busy households with growing children!
BEFORE
The demolition of a laundry building, metal shed and concrete driveway was necessary in order for a landscaped garden. Pushing the small extension towards the NW boundary also allowed the designers to maximise the lawn area.
The demolition of a laundry building, metal shed and concrete driveway was necessary in order for a landscaped garden. Pushing the small extension towards the NW boundary also allowed the designers to maximise the lawn area.
The extension provided the opportunity for separate access to the home office via the side access path. A clear separation between family areas and working areas is the ideal layout when working from home where distractions are at times rampant.
Outdoor decking: recycled Australian blackbutt hardwood
Outdoor decking: recycled Australian blackbutt hardwood
BEFORE
The family were thrilled with the design outcome – and you can see why. When looking at the shots ‘before’ the extension, it’s hard to believe that it’s the same home that it was before. “As a family they were just overwhelmed at how great the house was once finished, and how well it suited their lifestyle, accommodating the home business and the busy family life,” says Anja.
The family were thrilled with the design outcome – and you can see why. When looking at the shots ‘before’ the extension, it’s hard to believe that it’s the same home that it was before. “As a family they were just overwhelmed at how great the house was once finished, and how well it suited their lifestyle, accommodating the home business and the busy family life,” says Anja.