Houzz Tour: From Fixer-Upper to Country-Style Estate in Sydney
A century-old house goes from decaying to dashing with an addition that respects its historic grace and charm
Rebecca Gross
November 27, 2017
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
A “hidden gem” or a “house with potential” are descriptions that would easily fit this historic home before its renovation. When Joel and Clare Barnett bought the 100-year-old dwelling, it was in a state of decay and disrepair; little had been done to maintain or improve it over its lifetime, and it was in dire need of attention. Fortunately, the Barnetts saw its potential to become the spacious family home they wanted to raise their young children in.
They approached architect Michael Bell to update and expand the house, on a large lot in the Lindfield area of Sydney’s North Shore. “They wanted to maintain the heritage feel and to create a house that would be functional for their growing family,” Bell says. “They particularly liked the way we deal with old buildings — making additions that speak the same language as the original house while responding to the site, which leads to a well-mannered and unique outcome.”
They approached architect Michael Bell to update and expand the house, on a large lot in the Lindfield area of Sydney’s North Shore. “They wanted to maintain the heritage feel and to create a house that would be functional for their growing family,” Bell says. “They particularly liked the way we deal with old buildings — making additions that speak the same language as the original house while responding to the site, which leads to a well-mannered and unique outcome.”
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Joel and Clare Barnett and their three children, all under 12
Location: Lindfield area of Sydney
Size: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designers: Michael Bell Architects (architecture and design) and Ann King Design
(interior design)
In search of greenery and space, the Barnetts moved from Sydney’s Inner West to the North Shore. “They saw potential in the look and feel of the existing building and wanted to expand it to a four-to-five bedroom home, with formal and informal living areas, and with great access to the garden and separate pool-garden-entertaining area,” Bell says.
Who lives here: Joel and Clare Barnett and their three children, all under 12
Location: Lindfield area of Sydney
Size: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designers: Michael Bell Architects (architecture and design) and Ann King Design
(interior design)
In search of greenery and space, the Barnetts moved from Sydney’s Inner West to the North Shore. “They saw potential in the look and feel of the existing building and wanted to expand it to a four-to-five bedroom home, with formal and informal living areas, and with great access to the garden and separate pool-garden-entertaining area,” Bell says.
Updating the home required an addition; however, a large gray ironbark tree at the rear of the house limited the available ground-floor space. So Bell designed a two-story rear addition in a manner that maintained the single-story presence from the street. This is the post-renovation plan for the ground floor.
And this is the floor plan for the upstairs addition (known as the first floor in Australia). “This home is all about space, function, comfort and beauty, with each space flowing effortlessly into the next,” Bell says. “Its heritage features are embraced, and the language is carried beautifully throughout, adapting and enhancing. You might call this style of home new-traditional.”
The two-story addition opens to and overlooks the back garden, which slopes away from the house. “The rear of the house, in this instance, is much more important to the owners than the front, and this is where the building relates most eloquently to the site. Being to the north, it is where all the living happens and a seamless dialogue with the garden is essential,” Bell says. The generous back addition provides for a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, with verandas leading out to the back garden.
Before: The home was considerably less enticing before its makeover.
After: The renovation retains the original footprint and front facade. A new two-car garage to the side of the house is accessed from the street.
At the front of the house, the guest bedroom and formal living room (originally bedrooms) have access to the south-facing veranda and garden. Mostly used at night, these spaces don’t require the northern sunlight that the day-to-day living spaces do at the rear.
Bell kept the facade as close to the original as possible with bagged brick walls and cast-iron posts and lacework.
Before: Inside, the original hallway’s architectural features needed restoring to their former glory.
After: The central hallway maintains the traditional style of the home and provides access to a powder room, a formal dining room, a study and a staircase under a light well.
The stairs lead up to the family bedrooms, and a skylight brings natural light into the center of the building. The upstairs addition accommodates three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an oversize walk-in closet.
“Central skylights provide an abundance of natural light over the central stairwell, which also houses the expansive built-in bookshelves and storage,” Bell says.
“Central skylights provide an abundance of natural light over the central stairwell, which also houses the expansive built-in bookshelves and storage,” Bell says.
Stepping down at the end of the hallway, the house opens to the informal living and kitchen area, which in turn leads to a large veranda overlooking the garden.
The design and decoration of the home are in keeping with the era of the original house. “We wanted to create a luxurious area for adults and a hard-wearing yet stylish space for children and guests,” says Ann King, who was in charge of the interior design, decoration and color consulting. “The house couldn’t be too precious, yet it needed to keep a cohesive flow from front formal space to the rear, where everyday living occurs. The understated French style is inviting, modern and timeless.”
King achieved this by mixing classic pieces and antiques with a European flavor. Clare was also heavily involved in the decorating and furnishing; she designed the two-tone curtains, made by The Curtain Factory.
Pillows: Boyd Blue; Norfolk glass pendant light: Magins Lighting
Embellishing Tricks for Cost-Effective Custom Curtains
The design and decoration of the home are in keeping with the era of the original house. “We wanted to create a luxurious area for adults and a hard-wearing yet stylish space for children and guests,” says Ann King, who was in charge of the interior design, decoration and color consulting. “The house couldn’t be too precious, yet it needed to keep a cohesive flow from front formal space to the rear, where everyday living occurs. The understated French style is inviting, modern and timeless.”
King achieved this by mixing classic pieces and antiques with a European flavor. Clare was also heavily involved in the decorating and furnishing; she designed the two-tone curtains, made by The Curtain Factory.
Pillows: Boyd Blue; Norfolk glass pendant light: Magins Lighting
Embellishing Tricks for Cost-Effective Custom Curtains
The kitchen is a soft and muted gray, with the countertops and backsplash in Carrara marble. Wood Smoke by Porter’s Paints coats the walls.
Manor pendant light: Beacon Lighting; browse similar lights
Manor pendant light: Beacon Lighting; browse similar lights
A framed vintage poster adds a red flourish to the space, and an arrangement of retro collectibles lends character to the walls. “The collection of thoughtfully arranged antique treasures has been mounted on a ‘3D wall’ in the kitchen, conveying a sense of longevity. A 19th-century corkscrew for opening French-oaked barrels sits alongside framed blackboards and cheese boards, creating a corner that is both functional and beautiful,” King says.
Print: AllPosters.com
Print: AllPosters.com
King and Clare opted for a moody color palette and fine furnishings in the formal rooms. While the ceiling and woodwork are white, the walls throughout the home are painted in sophisticated hues. The formal dining room’s color is Polo from Porter’s Paints.
King found much of the antique furniture at Côté Maison. Many pieces were customized and repurposed, including the 18th-century armoire that serves as a television unit, and a round dining table.
Upstairs, the north-facing master bedroom is elevated over the garden with a dressing room and en suite to the south and east. Like the formal rooms downstairs, the master bedroom also has a dark and moody feel in order to be conducive for relaxing and sleeping. The walls are painted one shade lighter than the dining room with Atlantic from Porter’s Paints.
“Layers of bedding and full-length window treatments add a touch of luxe simplicity,” King says.
“Layers of bedding and full-length window treatments add a touch of luxe simplicity,” King says.
The guest bathroom is equally luxurious, with the tiles, mirror and pendant light creating a kaleidoscopic effect.
Before: This was the back of the house before work began.
After: The rear of the house is clad in Scyon Linea weatherboard from James Hardie. Each of the upstairs bedrooms has a balcony with a custom-designed wrought-iron railing.
From the informal living and kitchen area, the rear veranda steps down to a cobblestone terrace, which opens to the landscaped garden. Traditional plant selections include hydrangea, gardenia, spirea, salvia, rosemary, birch and viburnum.
From the informal living and kitchen area, the rear veranda steps down to a cobblestone terrace, which opens to the landscaped garden. Traditional plant selections include hydrangea, gardenia, spirea, salvia, rosemary, birch and viburnum.
Bell added a pool at the far end of the garden, with an outdoor dining area and two guest cabins.
“I have always admired Edna Walling’s beautiful landscape plans and designed the swimming pool to be tucked away as a surprise at the rear of the garden, leaving a large Myles Baldwin lawn garden to fall gracefully away from the residence,” Bell says.
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Love that deep blue color in the dining/living area, but I think that curtain rod going through the opening in the wall is really odd looking. Maybe if they hadn't painted the blue on the strip of wall below the molding? I dunno, just looks kind of weird. I would have done without curtain rods entirely, had it been my house.
It brings back nostalgia from the 40's when houses were elegant!
What a wonderful renovation, so true to the original, I am sure it must be almost like paradise living in that beautiful home. Thank you for sharing with us.