Houzz Tour: A Victorian Cottage in Sydney Gets a Bright New Makeover

An airy courtyard, bright colours and open spaces help liven up a once dark and dreary cottage

Vanessa Brunner 31 December 2014

Houzz Contributor

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

Despite its sunlit garden and Sydney location, this Victorian cottage felt dark and dreary. As with many homes built during the 19th century, the rear was cluttered with small rooms and low ceilings, and it had a bathroom that blocked views into the back garden.
After considering other design options, architect Danny Broe and homeowner Linda Carmichael gutted the back of the house and rearranged the rooms into an open and bright configuration. Dashes of colour break up the modern addition and add personality, while original Victorian architecture at the front of the house preserves the home’s unique character.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Linda Carmichael
Location Enmore, West Sydney, Australia
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Designer Danny Broe Architect
Budget £150,000 (not including professional fees)

Danny Broe Architect

A new window at the back of the house is visible from the combination living room, dining room and kitchen. The windows fold back, eliminating any division between interior and exterior, and allowing Carmichael to rest her feet on the elevated patio while sitting on the spacious window seat.

Broe created that patio - as well as the garden’s paths - using brick and stone salvaged from the demolished parts of the house.

Window seat fabric, Fingers by Signature Prints. Doors and Windows, Windoor.

Before Photo

Danny Broe Architect

Here’s a look at the back of the house before the renovation. This door led to a small bathroom, which blocked views of the back garden from the interior living spaces.

Danny Broe Architect

After the renovation, the north-facing window (important in the Southern Hemisphere) fills the space with sunlight. Broe even installed a small window at worktop level to capture extra light and illuminate the workspace. The Tasmanian oak flooring added throughout the house has a matte finish for a light and airy feel.

The ceiling of the window area is much lower than the ceiling in the rest of the space, making the window seat feel cosier and more intimate. Translucent blinds and a fence outside the backdoor provide privacy if needed.

Kitchen counter, Snow, Caesarstone. Hardware, Hettich. Sink, Olivieri. Faucets, Sussex by Reece. Blinds, Rolletna.

Before Photo

Danny Broe Architect

The previous kitchen had updated appliances and materials, but it felt cramped due to the lack of space and light.

Danny Broe Architect

The new open floor plan affords plenty of space. Four different colours divide the kitchen into zones, reducing the visual bulk of this efficient, single-wall layout. The different colours also make the cabinetry look more like freestanding than built-in furniture.

Hob and oven, Smeg. Refrigerator, Fisher & Paykel.

Danny Broe Architect

A door next to the pantry opens to reveal a surprising pink office. ‘Pink is such a strong colour, so it’s best revealed only occasionally,’ Broe says.

A small window in the office wall lets in light and looks out on the home’s small courtyard. Broe added the courtyard so he could introduce windows to the bathroom, bedroom and office, and bring light into the middle of the home.

Sofa and ottoman, Jazz by Oz Design. Rug, Orbit by Dinosaur Designs. Ceiling fan, Revolution by Hunter Pacific.

Before Photo

Danny Broe Architect

The living room had little natural light. The single ceiling pendant didn't do much to eliminate the dim, dark feeling.

Danny Broe Architect

The new living room gets plenty of natural light. Additional pendants in the kitchen and wall sconces in the living room project light in interesting ways and add warmth.

Lighting, ECC and Ikea. Chairs, Nordmyra, Ikea. Table, Tranetorp, Ikea.

Browse a selection of pendant lights

Before Photo

Danny Broe Architect

Squeezed into the back of the house, the home’s sole bathroom had limited square footage and could be accessed only by walking through the living room.

Danny Broe Architect

The bathroom was moved from the back of the house to the middle, where it’s now easily accessed from the public areas and the bedroom. The new bathroom also has a separate bath tub and utility appliances (not pictured).

Showerhead, Raindance, Hansgrohe. Tub, Kaldiwei. Sink, Alape. Bathroom counter, Corian. Heater, Rinnai. Tiles, Bisanna.

Danny Broe Architect

The details in the ornate front hall lent themselves to an equally ornate wallpaper. Biloba wallpaper from Marimekko greets guests with a splash of bold, contrasting colour.

Biloba wallpaper, Marimekko.

Explore 10 inventive ways to use wallpaper

Danny Broe Architect

Careful work maintained the original Victorian character in the front hall. Broe and his team had the plaster cornices and ceiling roses repaired, and fixed a nose on one of the plaster ladies, too.

Danny Broe Architect

All of the front rooms, including this informal area, were simply restored to their former glory. The window at the back of the house mimics the one in this room, connecting the original Victorian home with the modern spaces in back.

Light, Yvette from Beacon Lighting.

Danny Broe Architect

Although the house is in close proximity to its neighbours, the fence and the limited number of side-facing windows give the home privacy. Broe installed a new metal roof but kept the original contours to maintain the interior’s high ceilings.

Roofing, Lysaght. Interior paints, Dulux. Exterior paints, Murabond.

TELL US…
What do you think of this redesign? Do you value keeping period features when redesigning a home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.

Comment57

Comments (57)

See 54 more comments

Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo

modernistlover

Nice to see before and after shots. Really like the brightness of the space, very clever how light has been brought in.

Like 6 January 2015 at 5:52am

Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo

hillary59

Yes I agree , the before shots help us appreciate the huge advantage of professional design in dark difficult spaces . The confidence that the homeowner put in the architect has reaped fantastic results.
Capturing light in novel ways changed the whole feel of it . As a former kitchen planner I was also intrigued by the way the "colour blocking " technique , had an amazing effect on blending the kitchen units into the compact space while still creating a welcoming multipurpose area.
An inspiring renovation.

Like 8 January 2015 at 1:29pm

Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo