Dramatic move transforms cottage

Ruby red brick and oh so pretty but if the ceilings are low and outdoor links limited then a solution is called for. Who would have thought removing a floor could add so much more?

The rear of the home has been completely

Prior to renovation by Studio Prineas, this original

The new lounge/kitchen areas in the home have

By removing the floor above, the original basement

The new dining area is light-filled and spacious.

A dedicated window seat now looks out on

Bespoke walnut cabinetry offers handy living space functionality

A sliding cabinetry door reveals various storage/decor options

A mirror wall behind the two cantilevered sinks

Walnut joinery features throughout the home, including on

Bifold doors open the dining space to the

From the architects:

The original post war red brick cottage was compromised by a poor connection to the outdoors and a basement rumpus room with a low ceiling.

The new lounge/kitchen areas have been located at the original basement level. By removing the floor above, the original basement level has been transformed into a lofty, double-height lounge and kitchen area open to the garden. The large volume is naturally lit by considered openings to the north façade which animate the materiality and volume of the space throughout the day.

Throughout the project, inspiration was drawn from the mid-century era of the original cottage. Walnut timber is used in the joinery while other natural tones of stone and timber play throughout the benchtops and timber floor and vintage furniture pieces.

The relocated central kitchen is a few short

The dining room has been designed as a pavilion between two courtyards. The room scales down the volume of its adjacent kitchen and living spaces to create an intimate garden room. A window box to the garden on the north side expands the function of the space whilst finely detailed steel bi-folding glazing blurs the boundary between in and out.

The new design for the master suite (formerly the front entry to the house) has transformed the minutiae of daily life into a luxurious ritual. The creation of separate zones within the space distils each part of the daily routine, serving to moderate the pace of daily life and promote a sense of calm that is heightened by the warm tactile materiality of the space.