Houzz Tour: A Modern Extension Elevates an Edwardian Weatherboard Home
A stylish and spacious extension creates a family home that merges period details with a modern, functional aesthetic
Bill and Christine McCorkell purchased their home in 2010 with every intention of renovating. Not only had the original Edwardian weatherboard home undergone an ill-favoured 1980s renovation, the family of four (not including the rabbit and lizard) needed the extra space. They decided to build an additional storey to accommodate extra bedrooms and bathrooms, but didn’t stop there. The transformation was extensive: the front of the house was left as is, but rooms were remodelled and tweaked to bring the home’s style into the modern era, all while maintaining period details, such as the high ceilings, ceiling roses and cornices. As you move further into the home, the space subtly shifts to a more contemporary style with polished concrete floors and honed block walls.
With sustainable principles, form and function in mind, the McCorkells wanted to create a home with personality – one that was beautiful, refined and playful all at the same time. ‘We love the ease and beauty of the home, and especially the way it integrates the outside in,’ says Bill.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Bill McCorkell, owner and architectural director of ArchiBlox, Christine McCorkell, who manages the company’s marketing, their children, Harriet and Sam, George the rabbit and Toby the lizard
Location 7km outside of Melbourne, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
With sustainable principles, form and function in mind, the McCorkells wanted to create a home with personality – one that was beautiful, refined and playful all at the same time. ‘We love the ease and beauty of the home, and especially the way it integrates the outside in,’ says Bill.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Bill McCorkell, owner and architectural director of ArchiBlox, Christine McCorkell, who manages the company’s marketing, their children, Harriet and Sam, George the rabbit and Toby the lizard
Location 7km outside of Melbourne, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
From the street-side exterior, the transformation goes almost unnoticed.
From the back of the house, however, the transformation is clear, with a distinct extension that contrasts with the original weatherboard. The rear of the garden endeavours to capture the essence of the block with a park-like setting. ‘It’s a surprise and quite the novelty, contrasting the surrounding built form,’ says Bill.
Discover what you need to know about planning a rear extension
Discover what you need to know about planning a rear extension
Seamless inside-outside living is achieved with a layout that captures every opportunity for external views, either out to the garden or over the adjoining properties’ roofs. Sliding windows open to the rear, providing optimum natural light, which also bounces off and warms the polished concrete floor.
Daybeds transform the kitchen from a singular, task-driven space into a multi-purpose zone where the family can unwind. ‘With the morning sun on your back, it’s a pretty special place to read and have a cuppa,’ says Bill.
Daybeds transform the kitchen from a singular, task-driven space into a multi-purpose zone where the family can unwind. ‘With the morning sun on your back, it’s a pretty special place to read and have a cuppa,’ says Bill.
Bill and Christine designed many elements in the kitchen, with recessed joinery for the placement of all those items in constant use. The black Caesarstone worktop, for example, has a recessed, heavy-duty timber chopping board.
Stools, Patricia Urquiola Last Minute from Hub Furniture.
Stools, Patricia Urquiola Last Minute from Hub Furniture.
Tucked in a corner nook is the pantry, which helps conceal everything else. Look up and you’ll notice the slant in the ceiling – that’s because this smart set-up utilises the awkward space under the stairs.
Polished concrete floors in the dining and kitchen area are set against honed concrete block walls, which reinforces that seamless inside-outside connection.
The block walls carry past the ceiling level and into a void beyond the skylight that runs the length of the space. Natural light spills in, opening up and softening this side of the home.
The contrasting ceiling is lined with staggered plywood panels; joints are emphasised with a black textile that is recessed between the panels.
A vibrant piece of art by Ali McNabney Stevens complements the concrete and timber in the room.
A vibrant piece of art by Ali McNabney Stevens complements the concrete and timber in the room.
From the outside, notice the recessed black lines in the grout of the concrete blocks and the timber panels on the upper level. This is a running theme throughout the house, also used in the grouting of the tiles in the wet room.
All the design elements are consciously linked to one another, alongside a layout that is free-flowing and functional. As Bill says, ‘It incorporates order into what we all know as busy, crazy lives.’
All the design elements are consciously linked to one another, alongside a layout that is free-flowing and functional. As Bill says, ‘It incorporates order into what we all know as busy, crazy lives.’
From the side exterior, you can see the fluid connection between the original home and the new extension.
Despite the open-plan layout, ‘compartment’ style living manages to create intimacy in all those big, open spaces. The kitchen, for example, spills out to the dining and separate living area, so no one is ever ‘disconnected’, but the layout still gives scope to get away from it all. It really is the best of both worlds. ‘We wanted to be able to retreat from the children, and vice versa, but keep that connection and family interaction,’ says Bill.
Large windows open out to the BBQ area, and provide a lovely leafy aspect from the sofa. The children like to use the family room to watch TV or play their Wii games.
While the brickwork feature in this room creates interest, there are plans to turn it into a fireplace later down the line.
Cockatoo box, Bonnie and Neil. Pendant light, Lineare A from About Space.
Large windows open out to the BBQ area, and provide a lovely leafy aspect from the sofa. The children like to use the family room to watch TV or play their Wii games.
While the brickwork feature in this room creates interest, there are plans to turn it into a fireplace later down the line.
Cockatoo box, Bonnie and Neil. Pendant light, Lineare A from About Space.
The family room makes a statement from afar with this bespoke ArchiBlox clear-fill plywood bookshelf, which can be seen through the expansive windows as you approach the entrance of the house. Simple but effective, ‘it makes a real feature and adds the finishing touch to our home,’ says Bill.
The elaborate shelving space makes room for family photos and arbitrary objects, while the colour-blocking of books adds a highly effective design element. It is also one of Bill’s favourite features in the home.
The elaborate shelving space makes room for family photos and arbitrary objects, while the colour-blocking of books adds a highly effective design element. It is also one of Bill’s favourite features in the home.
The study embraces multipurpose functionality with a design that is neither work nor leisure focused. Bill and Christine use it mostly for work, to practise music and for meditation.
There is plenty of built-in joinery in this room, from the clear-fill plywood bookshelf, study desk and shelves to the storage unit.
An outside wall has the potential to close in the space and make the large window almost redundant, but a clever lattice wall feature manages to create the illusion of a distant scene. It not only opens up the space, it adds a tranquil quality to the room, too.
The lattice wall feature was part of the original house and was only discovered once the vines were cut back. ‘It’s one of the reasons we made such a big window – to be able to look at the lattice from inside the house,’ says Bill.
The lattice wall feature was part of the original house and was only discovered once the vines were cut back. ‘It’s one of the reasons we made such a big window – to be able to look at the lattice from inside the house,’ says Bill.
Just above the pantry and store area, a 1.2m-wide staircase leads you upstairs to a ‘learning corridor’ – a signature ArchiBlox feature – that adjoins two bedrooms and a bathroom.
The ‘learning corridor’ makes the most of what would usually be a void area and is personalised with the kids’ toys. It also creates more space away from Mum and Dad, so the kids don’t always have to retreat to their bedrooms when seeking alone time.
‘The flow and functionality provides an enhanced style of living with set designated areas. Kids’ zones, adult zones, family zones: there’s a place for everything,’ says Bill.
‘The flow and functionality provides an enhanced style of living with set designated areas. Kids’ zones, adult zones, family zones: there’s a place for everything,’ says Bill.
The box-like compartment in the main bedroom is a walk-in wardrobe, which provides the room with a fun timber feature and flows through to a beautiful en suite. ‘It’s a great functional space that looks cool, too,’ says Bill. The box is built from Tasmanian oak.
Discover 8 ways to squeeze in an elegant en suite
Discover 8 ways to squeeze in an elegant en suite
Sandi bed linen, Country Road.
A timber shelf is tactically placed in the white-tiled bathroom, adding warmth and texture to a monochrome scheme. Aesop hand cream and a Glasshouse candle break it up with a splash of orange.
Basin, Reece. Tiles, National Tiles.
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Basin, Reece. Tiles, National Tiles.
TELL US…
What do you think of this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.