History Rewritten
A new chapter in the life of an Edwardian abode.
BRICK CLADDING AND TERRACOTTA ROOF TILES TIE IN WITH THE TYPOLOGY OF THE AREA AND MAINTAIN THE HOME’ S HISTORY.
Like a much-loved item of clothing, this home in Melbourne’s inner east has been perfectly tailored to its owners’ lives. The close and fashionable fit was due to a major renovation, followed by a tweak a decade later to tidy any loose ends. Kate Connelly and her husband Grant bought the red-brick Edwardian cottage in 2004, when eldest daughter Cleo, now 17, was an infant (Lily, now 14, joined the family soon after). The major attraction was the location, says Kate, with the home in easy walking distance of five good schools. But solid doublebrick construction and original features such as high ceilings, deep skirtings and leadlights helped seal the deal. That said, the house was a bit small for the growing family and the tired interior in need of a refresh. It also shunned its backyard, with no indoor-outdoor connection.
“It had some flaws, but we didn’t want to waste a good old house, for both environmental and aesthetic reasons,” says Kate. “We figured we could begin a new chapter in its history.” In 2006, they approached architect Steven Whiting of Whiting Architects for the home’s first – and most dramatic – transformation.
“Steven’s calming aesthetic really appealed to us,” says Kate. But there was another, arguably more important, reason the working relationship would prove such a smart fit. Steven had two daughters of his own, albeit slightly older, so well understood the diverse needs of a family with two teenage girls.
“My children were the research and development team,” says Steven. “I could see what works and what doesn’t. Children are little for 10 minutes, so a family home should work for all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.”
“We wanted a home that offered spaces where we could do our own thing, yet come together when we wanted to, with a sense of connectedness but also a sense of separation,” adds Kate. Other than that, the brief was largely open. “An architect is an expert who is chosen for their aesthetic, so it’s important to leave them to do what they do best and then tweak that.”
First, Steven knocked off the rear of the house, replacing it with a new extension to accommodate the kitchen and living/dining area on the ground floor and the girls’ rooms and sunroom on the first floor. Then he ventured into the attic to create a multi purpose ‘activities’ room; the attic conversion and rear addition trebled the home’s useable floor area.
Central to Steven’s design was the creation of a series of “precincts”. Spaces for the adults are located downstairs within the original footprint, with a main bedroom suite to the left of the hallway and a study and music room opposite. The home then opens up into a light-drenched communal zone, which includes dining and living areas. The galley-style kitchen is connected to the open-plan space via a cutout breakfast bar.
The first floor is the girls’ domain: their bedrooms abut a louvred sunroom that draws natural light in. Beside their bedrooms is a family bathroom and a shared sitting area. Beyond, under the home’s original single gable, is the activities room, which is drenched in light thanks to a series of skylights. It also includes a four-metre-long table, designed
“WE ACHIEVED A LOT SPATIALLY–EVERYTHING IS OPEN, LIGHT AND ACCESSIBLE. IT WILL SUIT THE FAMILY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 10 YEARS .” STEVEN WHITING, ARCHITECT
“EVERY ROOM IS USED EVERYDAY. SOME ROOMS ARE MULTI PURPOSE, SO THE HOUSE NEVER FEELS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL .” KATE CON NELLY, HOME OWNER
MAIN BEDROOM Bedlinen and cushions, Kip & Co, In Bed and I Love Linen. Artwork by Marise Maas. Leather bedhead, Fenton & Fenton. Simple bedside table, Mark Tuckey. STUDY Kate works in the family’s shared study. Chairs, Matt Blatt. Ross Gardam ‘Silhouette’ lamp, Top3 by Design. Artworks by Caroline Kennedy-McCracken (left) and Cleo. BATHROOM Basin, Duravit. Tapware, Hansgrohe. Limestone wall and floor tiles. Stool, Koskela. ACTIVITIES ROOM Custom table. Chairs, all Thonet. The vintage rug was sourced in Turkey. LILY’S ROOM Oslo bedside table, Freedom. Lamp, Target. For similar wallpaper, try Wallpaper Brokers. Artwork by Helen McCullagh. European cushion and throw, Kip & Co. Round cushion and standard pillowcases, Feliz Home.
to accommodate work, study and dinner parties. “It’s a fantastic space,” says Steven. “It really opened up the first floor.”
With its brick cladding and terracotta roof, the rear extension shares the typology of the area, yet is distinct from the original house, says Steven. Inside, the walls are clad in recycled bricks salvaged from the demolition works, creating continuity in the home’s story. The brick is complemented by dark-stained timber floors and crisp white walls. “It has such a lovely feel and celebrates the original building in its high ceilings and the choice of materials,” he says. Its airiness is enhanced by a wall of bifolds that open onto the garden.
In 2018, the couple approached Steven again to give the home “a little refresh”. Steelframed windows replaced timber ones and a fireplace was installed in the family room – items left out of the original renovation due to budget constraints. Bifolds now separate the open-plan area and the music room too.
The family has no plans to move, at least until Cleo and Lily leave home and proximity to schools is less important. That said, because it has proved itself so adaptable, the home might just as easily suit a couple of empty-nesters.
Whiting Architects, Collingwood, Victoria; (03) 9036 0390 or whitingarchitects.com.