Houzz Tour: From Rundown Home to Country-Style Estate
This century-old house has gone from decaying to dashing with an extension that respects its heritage grace and charm
A ‘hidden gem’ or a ‘house with potential’ are descriptions that would easily fit this heritage home prior to its renovation. When Joel and Clare Barnett bought it, the 100-year-old home was in a state of decay and disrepair; little had been done to maintain or improve it over its lifetime, and it was in dire need of attention. Fortunately, the Barnetts saw its potential to become the spacious family home they wanted to raise their young children in.
They approached Michael Bell Architects to update and extend the house, which is situated on a large block in leafy Lindfield on Sydney’s North Shore. “They wanted to maintain the heritage feel and to create a house that would be functional for their growing family,” Michael Bell says. “They particularly liked the way we deal with old buildings; making additions that speak the same language as the original house while responding to the site, which leads to a well-mannered and unique outcome.”
They approached Michael Bell Architects to update and extend the house, which is situated on a large block in leafy Lindfield on Sydney’s North Shore. “They wanted to maintain the heritage feel and to create a house that would be functional for their growing family,” Michael Bell says. “They particularly liked the way we deal with old buildings; making additions that speak the same language as the original house while responding to the site, which leads to a well-mannered and unique outcome.”
Updating the home required an extension, however a large grey ironbark tree at the rear of the dwelling limited the available ground-floor space. Instead, Bell designed a two-storey rear addition in a manner that maintained the single-storey presence at the street frontage. This is the post-renovation ground-floor floor plan…
… and the upstairs addition. “This home is all about space, function, comfort and beauty, with each space flowing effortlessly into the next,” says Bell. “Its heritage features are embraced and the language is carried beautifully throughout, adapting and enhancing. You might call this style of home new-traditional.”
The two-storey addition opens to and overlooks the garden sloping away from the house. “The rear of the house in this instance is much more important to the owners than the front, and this is where the building relates most eloquently to the site. Being to the north, it is where all the living happens and a seamless dialogue with the garden is essential,” says Bell. The generous back extension provides for a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, with verandahs leading out onto the back garden.
The home was considerably less enticing before its makeover and extension, standing out for all the wrong reasons.
The renovation retains the original footprint and facade of the front of the house. A new two-car garage to the side of the house is accessed from the street.
At the front of the house, the guest bedroom and formal living room (originally bedrooms) have access to the south-facing verandah and garden. Mostly used at night, these spaces don’t require the northern sunlight that the day-to-day living spaces do at the rear.
Bell kept the facade as close to the original as possible with bagged brick walls and cast-iron posts and lacework.
Inside, the original hallway’s architectural features needed restoring to their former glory.
Now, the central hallway maintains the traditional style of the home, and provides access to a powder room, formal dining room, study and a staircase under a light well.
The stairs lead up to the family bedrooms, and a skylight brings natural light into the centre of the building. The upstairs addition accommodates three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an oversized walk-in robe. “Central skylights provide an abundance of natural light over the central stairwell, which also houses the expansive built-in bookshelves and storage,” says Bell.
Stepping down at the end of the hallway, the house opens to the informal living and kitchen area, which in turn leads to a large verandah overlooking the garden.
The design and decoration of the home is in keeping with the era of the original house. “We wanted to create a luxurious area for adults, and a hardwearing yet stylish space for children and guests,” says Ann King of Ann King Design, in charge of the interior design, decoration and colour consulting. “The house couldn’t be too precious, yet it needed to keep a cohesive flow from front formal space to the rear, where everyday living occurs. The understated French style is inviting, modern and timeless.”
King achieved this by mixing classic pieces and antiques with a European flavour. Clare Barnett was also heavily involved in the decorating and furnishing, and designed the two-tone curtains, made by The Curtain Factory.
Geometric cushions: Boyd Blue; Norfolk glass pendant: Magins Lighting
The design and decoration of the home is in keeping with the era of the original house. “We wanted to create a luxurious area for adults, and a hardwearing yet stylish space for children and guests,” says Ann King of Ann King Design, in charge of the interior design, decoration and colour consulting. “The house couldn’t be too precious, yet it needed to keep a cohesive flow from front formal space to the rear, where everyday living occurs. The understated French style is inviting, modern and timeless.”
King achieved this by mixing classic pieces and antiques with a European flavour. Clare Barnett was also heavily involved in the decorating and furnishing, and designed the two-tone curtains, made by The Curtain Factory.
Geometric cushions: Boyd Blue; Norfolk glass pendant: Magins Lighting
The kitchen is soft and muted grey with a Carrara marble benchtop and splashback and Porter’s Paints ‘Wood Smoke‘ on the walls.
Manor pendant: Beacon Lighting
Manor pendant: Beacon Lighting
A framed vintage poster adds a deep-red flourish to the space, and an arrangement of retro collectables adds character to the walls. “The collection of thoughtfully arranged antique treasures has been mounted on a ‘3D wall’ in the kitchen, conveying a sense of longevity. A 19th-century corkscrew for opening French-oaked barrels sits alongside framed blackboards and cheeseboards, creating a corner that is both functional and beautiful,” says King.
Vintage print: AllPosters
Vintage print: AllPosters
King and Barnett opted for a moody and sophisticated colour palette and fine furnishings in the formal rooms. While the ceiling and woodwork have been left white, all walls throughout the home have been painted. The formal dining room is the rich blue hue of Porter’s Paints ‘Polo’.
King sourced much of the antique furniture from Côté Maison. Many pieces were customised and repurposed, including the 18th-century armoire that serves as a television unit, and a round dining table.
Upstairs, the north-facing master bedroom is elevated over the garden with a dressing room and ensuite to the south and east. Like the formal rooms downstairs, the master bedroom also has a dark and moody feel in order to be conducive for relaxing and sleeping. The walls are painted one shade lighter than the dining room with Porter’s Paints ‘Atlantic’.
“Layers of bedding and full-length window treatments add a touch of luxe simplicity,” says King.
“Layers of bedding and full-length window treatments add a touch of luxe simplicity,” says King.
The guest bathroom is equally luxurious with black tiles, mirror and pendant that create a kaleidoscopic effect.
This was the back of the house before work began.
Now, the rear of the house is clad in Scyon Linea weatherboard cladding from James Hardie, and the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms each have a balcony with custom-designed wrought-iron railings.
From the informal living and kitchen area, the rear verandah steps down to a cobblestone terrace, which opens to the landscaped garden with traditional plant selections, such as hydrangea, gardenia, spirea, salvias, rosemary, birches and clipped viburnums.
From the informal living and kitchen area, the rear verandah steps down to a cobblestone terrace, which opens to the landscaped garden with traditional plant selections, such as hydrangea, gardenia, spirea, salvias, rosemary, birches and clipped viburnums.
Bell added a pool at the far end of the garden, with an outdoor dining area and two guest cabins.
“I have always admired Edna Walling’s beautiful landscape plans and designed the swimming pool to be tucked away as a surprise at the rear of the garden, leaving a large Myles Baldwin-lawn garden to fall gracefully away from the residence,” says Bell.
Tell us
What do you love about this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Tell us
What do you love about this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Who lives here: Joel and Clare Barnett and their three children aged under 12 years old
Location: Lindfield, NSW
Size: 475 square metres on a 1600-square-metre site; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Architecture and design: Michael Bell Architects
Interior design: Ann King Design
In search of greenery and space, the Barnetts moved from Sydney’s Inner West to the North Shore. “They saw potential in the look and feel of the existing building and wanted to expand it to a four-to-five bedroom home, with formal and informal living areas, and with great access to the garden and separate pool/garden/entertaining area,” says Bell.