A home of two faces

A pristine heritage frontage and roofline give no hint as to the spectacular changes delivered at the rear of this modern lifestyle renovation

A challenge for the renovation was that the

The new layout cleared away all the small

Strong ribbons of tiles organise the pool spa

Vistas through the spaces add to the sense

A sliding panel reveals and conceals different storage

The clean-lines of the contemporary new white and

Handleless cabinetry adds to the kitchen's minimalist presence.

A fun wine cellar solution slots into the

A stone freestanding tub in the master ensuite

Designed by Linda Simons, LSA Architects

From the architects:

Design brief

This listed heritage property is located in a popular area of metropolitan Melbourne.

The owners love the location and the period details of the house, but the amenity was sadly lacking and, for a family of five, the spaces were tired and very dated. The laundry was in a hall cupboard!

The challenge was that the existing roofscape had to remain intact due to the heritage regulations, so we had to support the upper level and demolish and rebuild beneath it.

This was a real challenge, and the skill of the builder cannot be underestimated.

The new layout cleared away all the small rooms at the rear of the house and we developed a large, open-plan living area with floor-to-ceiling windows.

This floods the back of the house with light and space.

The backyard is also small and rather than have it as a small strip of land around the house we extended the white polished concrete from the rear living space outside and around the pool.

This ties the inside and outside together and makes both spaces look bigger.

Landscaping is carefully placed around the perimeter and the garden feel is enhanced by a custom mosaic tile boundary wall treatment, by Graffico.

This gives a vibrant green backdrop to all the views out of the spaces.

To further connect the spaces, we deliberately broke down boundaries; for example, we installed a floating fireplace with glass panels to inside and out.

You can then experience the fire from the spa and the living room.

Strong ribbons of tiles also organise the pool spa and terrace spaces. These are aligned with the structural columns and continue out to the rear, extending your view of the space.

The master bedroom, nestled to the side of the house, is relatively narrow but using large windows off the master ensuite and also either side of the second outdoor fireplace the room has a feel of lightness and space – creating a quiet sanctuary.

The existing house was enhanced with oak floorboards and period detailing with a touch of fun – such as the cellar under the staircase.

All this was teamed with solar panels to the roof, rain gardens, rainwater tanks, under slab heating and passive solar design to give a very efficient and self-sustaining house.