Screen Play

A Sydney heritage cottage’s modern makeover transcends its modest site.

Old houses pose major renovating challenges, and none more so than a home in a sensitive heritage area. This former worker’s cottage in Sydney’s inner west, built in the late 1870s, was rare in its way – one of a row of three freestanding dwellings with double pitched roofs – and the local council was determined to preserve its character as seen from the street.

Richard Conway and Danya Cameron had a battle on their hands when they bought the liveable but termite-ridden house in 2008 and started a transformational journey in collaboration with Shaun Carter, principal of Carter Williamson Architects. City views and a handy location made it worthwhile, as did the fact that Danya’s mother and sister lived nearby. “The process from concept to approval took nearly three years,” says Danya. “The council was always trying to squeeze the parameters: shorter, slimmer, smaller.”

Nonetheless, the DA campaign and year-long building project paid handsome dividends. “We have a massive house for the area,” says Danya. “Five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a sizeable living area with a 12m-long kitchen and 3m-high ceilings downstairs, as well as an oversized double garage with a rooftop garden terrace – all on a modest 274m2 block.”

Daughters Amelia, eight, and Charlotte, six, now have all the space they need to spread out. Like most children, they strew

KITCHEN/DINING Lochie the West Highland white terrier chills out on the burnished concrete slab, while Danya and daughters Amelia above and opposite (at left) and Charlotte take a windowsill seat. The kitchen is 12m long, with black-stained American oak joinery, black granite benchtops and an island in grey ironbark. Canisters and chopping board, Kmart. Morgan & Finch planter, Bed Bath N’ Table. Porky Hefer Design ‘Found Objects’ pendant lights, Animal Farm. STAIRWELL The staircase design incorporates the home’s signature powder-coated perforated-aluminium screens, along with grey ironbark and concrete.