Houzz Tour: A Sydney Worker’s Cottage Becomes a Colourful Family Home
A bold redesign transformed this once-dark cottage into a sociable home filled with sunlight and bright colour
The owners of this cottage in Rozelle, Sydney, love to entertain and cook for friends and family, and needed an open-plan living and kitchen space in order to do just that. They also sought to connect the internal living spaces to an outdoor timber deck and barbecue entertaining area. They called on Scott Weston of Scott Weston Architecture Design to allow them to open up the space and let some light into what was a rather dark space.
‘The existing site orientation was predominantly due north, so the main inspiration was to capture maximum sunlight and provide good cross-ventilation to the new low linear addition,’ says Scott. ‘Apart from the street frontage and ridge roof, existing timber floorboards and the front two bedrooms with associated fireplaces, everything was demolished to provide greater function for the northern living spaces.’
‘The existing site orientation was predominantly due north, so the main inspiration was to capture maximum sunlight and provide good cross-ventilation to the new low linear addition,’ says Scott. ‘Apart from the street frontage and ridge roof, existing timber floorboards and the front two bedrooms with associated fireplaces, everything was demolished to provide greater function for the northern living spaces.’
The original single-storey home consisted of three bedrooms, a small living room and an outhouse kitchen. There were also separate add-ons, such as a utility room, bathroom and outside toilet, that Scott mentions had a somewhat dubious construction.
Scott and his team not only executed the architecture and design of the interior spaces, they were also involved in selecting the loose furniture, soft furnishings and artwork.
Scott and his team not only executed the architecture and design of the interior spaces, they were also involved in selecting the loose furniture, soft furnishings and artwork.
The internal walls were painted a neutral Dulux Sago at half-strength, with all timber work done in Dulux Sago at full-strength, allowing for the joinery to shine as the main colour feature within the home. ‘The primary colour on the ground floor is the orange laminate joinery box and overhead cabinets finished in Laminex in Mandarin,’ says Scott.
The linear credenza and island unit were finished in ABET pre-finished real timber veneer laminate and the worktops feature Caesarstone in Espresso supplied and installed by Masterstone.
The linear credenza and island unit were finished in ABET pre-finished real timber veneer laminate and the worktops feature Caesarstone in Espresso supplied and installed by Masterstone.
The kitchen joinery and wet areas encompass the focal component of the design. Each provides a strong and unique visual feature that draws the eye, yet also conceals the ergonomic functionality that lies beyond. ‘When you open up the burnt orange doors to each of these areas, you are greeted with a complementary or contrasting colour device to each space,’ says Scott. ‘The pantry is lined in lilac, the utility room has cobalt blue glass tiles and the bathroom is lined in gelato green mosaic tiles.’
Kitchen splashback in 6mm toughened Starphire glass, Sydney Glass.
Tour a brightly coloured Victorian house in Sussex
Kitchen splashback in 6mm toughened Starphire glass, Sydney Glass.
Tour a brightly coloured Victorian house in Sussex
A George Nelson saucer pendant light located over the circular solid oak dining table makes for a stunning feature.
Recycled, walnut-stained floorboards were used in order to keep things on the sustainable side. Compact fluorescent downlights and continuous LED uplighting was also used throughout the home.
Tilda circular solid oak dining table, Jardan.
Discover effective ways to use concealed lighting in your home
Recycled, walnut-stained floorboards were used in order to keep things on the sustainable side. Compact fluorescent downlights and continuous LED uplighting was also used throughout the home.
Tilda circular solid oak dining table, Jardan.
Discover effective ways to use concealed lighting in your home
The addition of colourful soft artwork and a skull painting add the perfect accent to the family-friendly space.
Jasper leather sofa, King Furniture. Painting, Julian Meagher. Soft sculptures, Cupco.
Jasper leather sofa, King Furniture. Painting, Julian Meagher. Soft sculptures, Cupco.
A timber staircase with a metal balustrade screen on the northern living room wall allows for access up to the main master bedroom suite, which features built-in bespoke timber veneer and laminate joinery to one wall, as well as secret access to a large en-suite bathroom.
In terms of style, Scott believes in making every design he works on individual. ‘Each and every project is a direct response to the client’s unique brief and personality, and so our design solutions are very bespoke. It’s a bit like hand-stitching a garment onto the client. We tend not to want to be classified as a recurring “style” or “look”. Architecture should be something that transcends themes or fads,’ he says.
Large windows assist in blurring the lines between outside and in and showcase the structural outdoor elements and features.
Harvard sofa bed in leather, Sofa Studio.
Harvard sofa bed in leather, Sofa Studio.
The wall-to-wall joinery in the children’s rooms features a metallic white laminate with graduated green laminate drawers and are a standout feature. The green-hued drawers adorned with anodised orange handles with Laminex in Pomegranate internal carcass colour is one of Scott’s favourite features and gives a great visual pop of colour.
The two bathrooms within the house each had distinct design requirements, however both feature the design concept of entering through a ‘hero wall’ of joinery, before being transported into a cool and calming luxurious bathroom space.
The client selected a calming blue-green mosaic tile that beautifully contrasts with the orange external walls.
Ceiling fans have been incorporated into the bedrooms and living rooms in order to keep things cool without relying on air conditioning. The master bedroom also has aluminium Venetian blinds affixed to the facade to help things cool in the heat of summer.
The first floor master bedroom has a bespoke wardrobe unit that features storage areas that are specific to each client, such as felt-lined drawers for jewellery, scarves and accessories, as well as integrated, full-extension shoe drawers and a TV entertainment niche.
The bed base features handy yet discreet pull-out drawers for bed linen and bulky storage items.
The bed base features handy yet discreet pull-out drawers for bed linen and bulky storage items.
The built-in joinery throughout the house means everything has a place and can easily and quickly be stowed to avoid visual clutter. ‘The jewellery and accessories drawer is a much-loved feature of the master bedroom,’ says Scott.
Instead of glass, a full-height tiled blade wall screens the shower, as it’s easy both to clean and to maintain.
‘The bathroom’s generous length allows the shower compartment to be located to one end and finished in the client’s favourite light blue colour,’ says Scott.
‘The bathroom’s generous length allows the shower compartment to be located to one end and finished in the client’s favourite light blue colour,’ says Scott.
The general tiles used for the bathrooms are 600x300 vitrified porcelain wall tiles in gloss Extreme White by Calibre Concepts and architect-designed hinged mirrored cabinets with flexible 6mm glass shelves.
Catalano Zero Tondo basin, Rogerseller.
Catalano Zero Tondo basin, Rogerseller.
Colour blocking was used to
identify the shower compartment and create a vibrant yet Zen-like backdrop to the space.
Architect-designed mosaic tiled shower shelves were custom-made and really add a point of difference to the bathroom, although there was some doubt on the client’s behalf about the use of small tiles.
‘The client had heard of tiles popping off and mould issues when we suggested mosaic tiles. The myth was expelled when we showed previous projects and how it is prevented by using the correct installation and finishing method with an epoxy grout.’
identify the shower compartment and create a vibrant yet Zen-like backdrop to the space.
Architect-designed mosaic tiled shower shelves were custom-made and really add a point of difference to the bathroom, although there was some doubt on the client’s behalf about the use of small tiles.
‘The client had heard of tiles popping off and mould issues when we suggested mosaic tiles. The myth was expelled when we showed previous projects and how it is prevented by using the correct installation and finishing method with an epoxy grout.’
A suite of stacking glazed commercial sliding doors and operable louvre windows visually connects the house to the raised terraced lawn and flush courtyard deck, making the addition appear a lot bigger than it actually is. The simple addition of a skillion roof provides sun and rain protection, enabling the amount of useable living room space in the summer months to double.
Hidden away is also a rainwater tank that collects water run-off from the skillion roof.
Hidden away is also a rainwater tank that collects water run-off from the skillion roof.
The back of the home before was very removed from the style and feel of the indoor living areas.
‘The street frontage and rear of the property face east and west respectively. The opportunity existed to build an addition on the southern boundary and orientate the addition to the north, and embrace a terraced lawn and garden,’ says Scott.
‘The street frontage and rear of the property face east and west respectively. The opportunity existed to build an addition on the southern boundary and orientate the addition to the north, and embrace a terraced lawn and garden,’ says Scott.
Externally, the house is clad in durable Australian blackbutt hardwood that over time will age naturally to a grey/silver hue.
The outdoor dining and cooking area is ideal for the family, who love to cook and entertain at home. ‘The seamless integration of inside to outside creates a tranquil external room,’ says Scott. ‘The tensioned sunshade structure and linear barbecue joinery unit present an inviting and weather-protected outdoor room that can be used all year round.’
Rich glazed turquoise tiles were inset flush to the external barbecue worktop to contrast and complement the burnt orange feature wall.
Rich glazed turquoise tiles were inset flush to the external barbecue worktop to contrast and complement the burnt orange feature wall.
Mark, Anu and their children now love being able to walk into the existing hallway and see straight through into the terraced lawn and garden.
The original home was a simple worker’s cottage that sat on a steep street frontage raised above the footpath on a sandstone block work base. Stairs led from the footpath to the front porch and bullnose veranda.
TELL US…
What do you think of the transformation of this family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of the transformation of this family home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here Couple Mark and Anu and their two teenage children
Location Rozelle, Sydney
Architect Scott Weston of Scott Weston Architecture Design
Original house A freestanding worker’s cottage on a steep site of 223 sq m, with an existing floor area of 85 sq m
Brief Maintain two front bedrooms and central entry corridor, and demolish the rest of the house to incorporate an open-plan living and dining room within the existing line of the rear of the house
Cost £300,000
‘The clients took a leap of faith and ultimately trusted us not only with the functional planning, but the architectural palette, right down to the bed linen and associated furnishings,’ says Scott. The architects were delighted they could also borrow from the clients’ family heritage and introduce the planes of colour that are integral to the design.
One example of this is illustrated by the rich palette of timber veneer joinery. The chocolate quartz worktop in the kitchen is paired with a burnt orange laminate, and mauve lines the walk-in pantry.