A Classic Federation Home Gets a Cool, Industrial-Style Extension
A spacious and thoroughly contemporary addition adds interest and functionality to a compact, heritage abode
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, David McCrae, principal architect at mm+j architects, shares the journey of extending a two-bedroom, one-bathroom Federation cottage into a spacious, light-filled family home with three bathrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and plenty of usable outdoor space.
Gained: A new addition housing an open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, a new bathroom, powder room, laundry and built-in joinery. In addition to that, we added a bedroom, new off-street parking for two cars and a new entertainer’s courtyard.
What was the house like originally?
A detached, single-storey Federation house with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a rear lean-to. The house has three street frontages; it is also part of North Sydney Council’s Holtermann Estate Conservation Area.
A detached, single-storey Federation house with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a rear lean-to. The house has three street frontages; it is also part of North Sydney Council’s Holtermann Estate Conservation Area.
The original family bathroom
What was your brief?
What was your brief?
- Add a new extension with an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room and indoor-outdoor connection.
- Add a third bedroom in the existing house, with the rear addition consisting of family living space.
- A new powder room.
- More storage.
- Plenty of natural light.
- An industrial style.
- Incorporate natural materials and bold colours.
- Retain the character of the front of the house.
- Create a flat backyard for the children to play in.
- Include undercover car parking.
The original living room
What were the clients’ must-haves?
Coming of Age: From Student Digs to a Modern, Light-Filled Home
What were the clients’ must-haves?
- Three bedrooms.
- A separate powder room.
- Natural sunlight and cross ventilation.
- Fix issues with dampness.
- Lots of storage.
- An entertainer’s courtyard.
- Privacy from the side lane.
Coming of Age: From Student Digs to a Modern, Light-Filled Home
The floor plan after works
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Demolished the lean-to at the rear of the house and replaced it with a contemporary addition housing an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
- Boosted storage with built-in cabinetry to the new addition.
- Added a new bathroom, powder room and laundry.
- Converted the living room in the original part of the house into a third bedroom.
- Fenced the rear of the property, creating two off-street parking spaces and a new entertainer’s courtyard. Also added new rear-access sliding gates.
- Added a new boundary wall to increase privacy to the rear yard.
Recycled bricks around the new fireplace add to the historical character of the home and create a textured look
What was the budget?
Approximately $650,000.
What was the budget?
Approximately $650,000.
Where did most of the budget go?
- Construction of the rear addition.
- Rear excavation and site works.
Clerestory windows harness the northern light and boost cross ventilation, while maintaining privacy on this corner site
What problems or limitations did this project address?
What problems or limitations did this project address?
- Heritage concerns from North Sydney Council stated that the new additions could not dominate the streetscape and should contribute sympathetically to the local area.
- Boosting natural sunlight to the living areas.
- Repairing the original home and connecting it to the new modern addition.
- Providing more usable space on a small site.
- Providing privacy from the three surrounding roads and overlooking issues with offices located across the laneway.
Artificial turf was used in the backyard as it is low-maintenance and drains quickly – the yard is lower than the laneway beside it and drying out was a concern
How does the new work address these problems or limitations?
How does the new work address these problems or limitations?
- The skillion roof is maintained but at a lower pitch.
- The colours, details and materials (timber and brick) used in the new addition blend in with those in the original part of the house.
- The land at the rear was levelled so the new rear addition sits at the same level as the front of the house, increasing privacy.
How does the new extension sit beside the original home?
It is deliberately designed to contrast with the heritage look and feel of the existing home, while echoing the original colours, details and materials.
It is deliberately designed to contrast with the heritage look and feel of the existing home, while echoing the original colours, details and materials.
Floor-to-ceiling cupboards in a white polyurethane finish blend in with the surrounding walls and provide linen and general storage beside the laundry and bathroom zone
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
We wanted the older front bedroom portion of the house and the new open-plan living area to be defined as separate.
The two new bathrooms and laundry were positioned between the two parts of the house, which allowed us to lower the ceilings and roof and create a third roof style with a shallow gable.
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
We wanted the older front bedroom portion of the house and the new open-plan living area to be defined as separate.
The two new bathrooms and laundry were positioned between the two parts of the house, which allowed us to lower the ceilings and roof and create a third roof style with a shallow gable.
What are the key features of this extension?
- A raked ceiling.
- Clerestory windows to boost light and airflow.
- Concrete tile floors for an industrial feel.
- Stacking sliding doors to connect the indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Concealed cupboards for storage.
- Recycled exposed bricks in the new addition to tie in with the original brick house.
Why do you think this extension works so well?
It creates a simple, light-filled open living area that allows for cross ventilation and connects seamlessly to the backyard. The new addition has a clear separation from the more historical portion of the house.
It creates a simple, light-filled open living area that allows for cross ventilation and connects seamlessly to the backyard. The new addition has a clear separation from the more historical portion of the house.
Interior materials palette
Interior fixtures and fittings
Room of the Week: An Elegant Ensuite With Exquisite Detailing
- Academy Tiles ceramic tiles in Concrete Grey with matching grey grout on the floor of the extension.
- Recycled, exposed bricks on a wall in the extension.
- Tiles by Kate tiles on the kitchen and bathroom splashbacks.
Interior fixtures and fittings
- Lights 2 U timber and concrete pendants above the sofas.
- Lights 2 U black and copper pendant above the dining table.
- Smeg freestanding stove.
- Franke Sinos mixer tap in the kitchen.
- AXA Hox basin in the bathroom (available at Reece).
- Mizu Bloc mixer tap in the bathroom (available at Reece).
Room of the Week: An Elegant Ensuite With Exquisite Detailing
Exterior materials palette
- BlueScope Lysaght Colorbond steel sheeting in Dune to the roof in the new extension and carport.
Tell us
Are you as impressed with this contemporary extension as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more open-plan rooms done right? Check out this Room of the Week: An Open-Plan Space That’s a Vision in Blue
Are you as impressed with this contemporary extension as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more open-plan rooms done right? Check out this Room of the Week: An Open-Plan Space That’s a Vision in Blue
Answers by David McCrae, principal architect at mm+j architects
Who lives here: A family with two children
Location: Crows Nest, NSW
Original size: 90 square metres
Size after extension: 120 square metres
Architect and interior designer: mm+j architects
Builder: Boom Build
Structural engineer: Hyten Consulting
Stormwater engineer: NB Consulting