Houzz Tour: A Statement-Making Addition in Australia
A family home in Perth gains an open living area for entertaining and a private master suite
The historic buildings in central Perth, Australia, are often replaced with multiple new homes to meet the growing demand. But it was a different story for this beautiful house. Architect Janik Dalecki was determined to restore the period elegance of the 1917 home and build a practical addition for a modern family. With the full support of local preservation officials, Dalecki and his team embarked on an exciting quest to create a bold design that was sympathetic to the building’s roots while making the home more suitable for today.
Before. The house had strong bones, with beautiful rooflines and ornate windows bringing elegance and charm.
Purposely designed to make a bold statement, the modern addition is constructed from a wood frame and covered with black wood-composite siding to accentuate the contrast with the rich red brick of the original house. However, the black addition ties back to the existing home through dark features like the window frames, gutters and repaired mortar for an overall cohesive finish. The house is heavily insulated with the highest-performing insulation that could fit in the existing spaces.
Black wood-composite siding: Weathertex
Black wood-composite siding: Weathertex
Because of a moderate slope leading from the front of the property to the back, the project required a construction method that would allow the aboveground floor level to remain without significant retaining walls or new fill being required.
That the house is within a historical preservation area also influenced the design and construction. “We designed this home ensuring it was sympathetic to the heritage guidelines, as well as all the requirements of a heritage-listed home,” Dalecki says.
That the house is within a historical preservation area also influenced the design and construction. “We designed this home ensuring it was sympathetic to the heritage guidelines, as well as all the requirements of a heritage-listed home,” Dalecki says.
Before. Originally the house was 1,130 square feet, with three bedrooms and one living room.
After. The existing rooms remain true to their original size, except for one bedroom, which was originally used as a dining room. This room was split in two, with one half becoming the new bathroom and the second half becoming the en suite for the master suite at the back of the house. Additionally, the old kitchen then became the walk-in closet for the master suite.
The layout of the house was reworked to create not only a free-flowing open-plan living area, but also to position the living spaces in the optimal location to expose them to the cooling southwest breezes in summer and the warm northern sunlight in winter. The project was completed in May, and the full design and construction process took 15 months.
The layout of the house was reworked to create not only a free-flowing open-plan living area, but also to position the living spaces in the optimal location to expose them to the cooling southwest breezes in summer and the warm northern sunlight in winter. The project was completed in May, and the full design and construction process took 15 months.
The center of the home is an entertainer’s dream, with a huge island set in the middle of the room and a dining area flanked by exterior views. Large sliding doors completely open the living area to the outdoors, creating a smooth flow from indoors to out. “When the doors are open, the spaces are connected and transformed into one large entertaining zone,” Dalecki says.
Punching out the dining space from the rest of the house captures the northern light and the city views.
The high ceilings and windows of the new addition create a beautiful and airy feature. “The natural light that now floods this space, and the breeze that passes through in the late afternoon in summer, is fantastic,” Dalecki says.
To let the intricate details of the original home shine, the new addition incorporates contrasting materials and sharp, minimalist lines to create a strikingly modern form. Although this creates a clear definition between the old and the new, a neutral color scheme and the use of the existing floorboards throughout provide a cohesive transition between the two eras.
The fireplaces were restored and given a new lease on life. “We intended to keep the existing bedrooms and living room as true to their original form as possible. All the original heritage features of these spaces have been restored to maintain the home’s charm,” Dalecki says.
These original spaces, with their fireplaces, cornices, ceiling roses and baseboards, have a classic feel compared with the modern spaces, particularly since the original windows in these rooms are quite small. “As the rooms in the old part of the house feel darker and moodier, it was our intention that the modern extension felt more simplistic in design, with sleek cornicing and skirting, and injected with plenty of light to open it up,” Dalecki says.
These original spaces, with their fireplaces, cornices, ceiling roses and baseboards, have a classic feel compared with the modern spaces, particularly since the original windows in these rooms are quite small. “As the rooms in the old part of the house feel darker and moodier, it was our intention that the modern extension felt more simplistic in design, with sleek cornicing and skirting, and injected with plenty of light to open it up,” Dalecki says.
The sleeping areas are divided into two distinct zones. The master bedroom, shown, is at the rear, providing a sense of privacy.
The two existing front bedrooms share a new bathroom, providing a much more practical layout.
The two existing front bedrooms share a new bathroom, providing a much more practical layout.
In the master bedroom, a wide-ledged window floods the room with natural light and creates a wonderful reading nook while providing a restorative connection with the exterior spaces.
The simple, pared-back palette continues into the bathrooms, where a cool gray tile brings an industrial touch to the home.
A large skylight over the en suite’s walk-in shower creates a sense of bathing beneath the clouds.
At the front of the house, the porch stays true to the original era because features were restored where possible or replaced like for like. For example, the Colorbond roofing replicates the original roof of the home.
The materials for the modern addition, however, accentuate the contrast with the existing house. The black Weathertex siding jumps out from the red brick.
A contemporary fire pit graces the modern courtyard, creating a wonderful alfresco entertaining space all year.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: A family with young children
Location: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Size: 1,830 square feet (170 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architect-builder: Dalecki Design
The architect’s goal was to transform this home into an entertainer’s dream and ultimately a home for modern family living. The tired and impractical layout was to become light, bright and open, with sweeping views of the city and a clear connection with the outdoor space. And although the home had to be family-friendly, a luxurious master retreat was also on the wish list, so the adults could escape to the privacy of their own space.