Houzz Tour: A Sydney Home Gets a Sleek Extension and Plenty of Space
Regular visits from a couple's extended family inspired them to update and extend their home
This Potts Point house wasn’t a house at all when the current owners bought it, but a terrace that had been split into four apartments. It was in a run-down condition when the architects from Smart Design Studio took it on with a view to transform it into a contemporary home that could adapt to a varied number of occupants with ease. One partner travels overseas a lot for work and the other maintains and runs the home, and the couple often have family members come and stay.
‘The home had to accommodate mostly 1-2 people and at times sleep up to eight adults,’ says architect William Smart. ‘The main objective was to create a private inner-city retreat for themselves and their extended family.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A couple, their two dogs, and many extended family members that stay periodically
Location Sydney, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
‘The home had to accommodate mostly 1-2 people and at times sleep up to eight adults,’ says architect William Smart. ‘The main objective was to create a private inner-city retreat for themselves and their extended family.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A couple, their two dogs, and many extended family members that stay periodically
Location Sydney, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
From the street, the smart terraced house is as traditional as its neighbours, but the tall apartment buildings to the side and rear meant privacy considerations had to come into play for the planned extension.
From the back, the home is anything but traditional. Spanning three storeys, this ultra-modern addition features a central circular stairway to link the floors together.
Learn what to consider when planning a rear extension
Learn what to consider when planning a rear extension
‘Broadly, the house falls into two halves: a modern half on the back and a traditional part on the front,’ says William.
The original (and ‘traditional’) house now accommodates the formal living and dining area, the master bedroom and en suite, plus a music room.
‘We retained the interior architecture with tall skirting boards, dentil cornices and panelled doors,’ William adds.
The original (and ‘traditional’) house now accommodates the formal living and dining area, the master bedroom and en suite, plus a music room.
‘We retained the interior architecture with tall skirting boards, dentil cornices and panelled doors,’ William adds.
William then added a variety of strong colours that complemented each room’s usage, aspect and, in some cases, compensated for the challenging aspects of the room. For example, this room was formerly cold and dark, so it was painted blood red to provide warmth and colour.
Wall colour, ‘Carmen Miranda,’ Dulux.
Wall colour, ‘Carmen Miranda,’ Dulux.
Bookcase, custom made. Black ‘Dome’ table lamp by Todd Bracher for Mater, Phillipe Stark Prive sofa, and Phillipe Stark Prive ottoman, Cult.
The master bedroom, also in the original part of the house, has been given a contemporary edge in line with the new addition at the rear.
Wall colour, ‘Veiled Delight,’ Dulux.
Wall colour, ‘Veiled Delight,’ Dulux.
Cassina Pilotta easy chair, Cult.
DLM bedside table and black ‘Dome’ table lamp by Todd Bracher for Mater, Cult.
The en suite to the master bedroom is both luxurious and chic, with striking ‘Rossa Levanto’ marble walls set against clean white floors and fixtures. Smart Design Studio designed the bath and basin; they were then custom made in Corian.
Vola HV1 bench-mounted mixer set, Dedece.
The hallway serves as a transitional space from the original home to the addition.
Wall colour, ‘Blue Garte,’ Dulux.
Wall colour, ‘Blue Garte,’ Dulux.
These two look like they’ve stepped straight out of a Dulux paint catalogue.
The cloakroom features marble ‘Nero Marquina’ tiles with a polished finish, from Classic Ceramics.
The rear portion of the house is monochromatic with white floors, walls and ceilings and a single blackened ash wall that spans the full three storeys of the extension.
The kitchen is as sleek as the rest of the addition. To accommodate three levels, William had the back excavated. The ground-floor level now houses the living/dining and kitchen, while the original part of the house at this level houses the formal living and dining space, plus a cloakroom.
Gessi Oxygene Hi-Tech kitchen mixer, Abey Australia. Vola 590 worktop mixer and swivel spout on roses (on island), Dedece. 6mm toughened starphire glass mirror, Grosvenor Glass.
Gessi Oxygene Hi-Tech kitchen mixer, Abey Australia. Vola 590 worktop mixer and swivel spout on roses (on island), Dedece. 6mm toughened starphire glass mirror, Grosvenor Glass.
Tall windows and a disappearing glass wall open the kitchen/dining space to the outdoors, and ensure this area of the home is flooded with light at any time of year.
Travertine tiles have been used throughout the kitchen, dining room, utility room and bathroom, while blackbutt floorboards line the formal living/dining room, hallway, master bedroom, study, guest bedroom and stair landings.
‘Shima Scuro’ Travertine tiles (900x300mm), Skheme. Timber floors, Anton’s Flooring.
Travertine tiles have been used throughout the kitchen, dining room, utility room and bathroom, while blackbutt floorboards line the formal living/dining room, hallway, master bedroom, study, guest bedroom and stair landings.
‘Shima Scuro’ Travertine tiles (900x300mm), Skheme. Timber floors, Anton’s Flooring.
The table is built into the island bench, which can act as a serving area during inside/outside gatherings.
Wishbone dining chairs, Carl Hansen.
Wishbone dining chairs, Carl Hansen.
‘In contrast to the front part of the house the detailing is recessive, minimal and modern with expansive uninterrupted walls of glass or solid material,’ William says of the addition.
‘What grafts the new portion to the existing is a three-storey high spiral stair that extends the full width of the house with cantilevering treads that don’t touch the perimeter walls,’ William says. ‘Further to this, because the house has split levels, there are no balustrades on the staircase.’
This 3D model shows what an integral part the stairs are to the extension.
Here’s the extension from the side.
The stairs were constructed by a boat builder and have an exquisite level of detail that binds the whole project together. In fact, the stairs are what William is most proud of about this house.
‘The staircase is dramatic, clever and beautifully made. It’s the most impressive feature of the house.’
‘The staircase is dramatic, clever and beautifully made. It’s the most impressive feature of the house.’
A simple, study punctuated with surprise dabs of colour is the only ‘room’ on the first floor; it overlooks the dining space.
Le Corbusier LC7 Swivel Chair, Cult. Tab T lamp, Euroluce.
See 10 ways to keep your home office secret
Le Corbusier LC7 Swivel Chair, Cult. Tab T lamp, Euroluce.
See 10 ways to keep your home office secret
A fold-out bed concealed in the wall means the study can become another guest room when required.
The third-storey guest room is awash with sunlight, and has the same minimalist approach and restrained colour palette as the rest of the house.
Stretch bed linen, Analu.
Stretch bed linen, Analu.
Energy-efficient fixtures and fittings are installed throughout the house and the design, plus planning and shading of the building was done with the environment in mind.
‘Sustainability is a highly integrated and important part of this project,’ William says. ‘Further to this we used native species for the gardens and Good Environmental Choice Australia-rated materials wherever possible.’
‘Sustainability is a highly integrated and important part of this project,’ William says. ‘Further to this we used native species for the gardens and Good Environmental Choice Australia-rated materials wherever possible.’
‘Round rooms and secret doors emphasise the fluid contemporary aspects of these spaces,’ William says.
This circular bathroom sits between the guest room and guest living area spanning the second floor – giving visiting family members their own space.
Duravit Architec Handrinse basin, Meco. ‘Signorino’ 600x600mm polished white tiles, Signorino.
This circular bathroom sits between the guest room and guest living area spanning the second floor – giving visiting family members their own space.
Duravit Architec Handrinse basin, Meco. ‘Signorino’ 600x600mm polished white tiles, Signorino.
The task of building an large extension on a compact inner-city site was a challenge. ‘It meant that we had to design the construction sequence as well as the house,’ William says.
The external paving to front and rear gardens and external stepping stones are grey ‘Shima Scuro’ Travertine tiles (900x300mm), available from Skheme. They tie in seamlessly with the living areas on the ground level.
Smart managed to incorporate a sunny terraced garden in the design despite the narrow site and addition. The below-ground double garage lies beneath this garden.
TELL US…
What do you think of this modern extension? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.
What do you think of this modern extension? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.