SUPER SIZE ME

For a Sydney couple, optimising a 19th-century terrace meant finding extra space to accommodate their changing needs and growing son

In dire need of more space, a Sydney family set about optimising their classic 1800s inner-city terrace to make it work harder – and look fabulous

After a stint working in New York, the young couple who own this house returned to their hometown of Sydney in 2011 with a plan to buy a terrace. Though they were keen, there were some reservations. “We had never lived in a terrace house before and knew they could be dark and have issues with rising damp,” they say. “We thought that we should rent one to see if we liked it before buying.”

They did just that, leasing an 1880s property a few kilometres east of the CBD. “What happened was that, within six months, we decided we loved it and wanted to buy, but not just any terrace – this specific one!” While the house needed a lot of work, the couple weren’t daunted by the prospect of spending time, and money, on a big renovation. “We approached the owners directly and asked them to sell us the house. It took about five months of negotiations, but finally we came to an agreement. We settled almost a year to the day after first moving in.”

Not long afterwards, they had their first child, a baby boy. At that point the couple decided to put their renovation plans on hold. “We wanted him to get a little bit bigger, past that stage of destroying a brand-new designer terrace.” But by mid-2016, when their son was four, they couldn’t wait any longer. They contacted interior designer Alexandra Kidd and began planning a comprehensive renovation that would transform their home from traditional to strikingly contemporary.

dream it

Having lived in New York, where space is at a premium, the owners were keen to make the most of their substantial block by adding an extension. “We already had a formal lounge at the front, but really needed a family space at the back,” they explain. In addition, they dreamt of enlarging the main bedroom to create a more luxurious atmosphere.

Equally important were natural light and air flow, both of which had been in short supply in their Manhattan apartment. “We decided to increase the light in the house in a number of different ways: installing skylights, pulling open walls, and adding a glass roof to the back room.” Extra windows were also to be added, as well as ceiling fans in several rooms.

Finally, the couple hoped to create a home where their son could thrive. In part, that meant designing a bedroom for him with ample light and space. “We decided to sacrifice his old room, the middle bedroom, to get an ensuite and a walk-in robe for the main bedroom. His new room would be at the back of the house, with alterations to make it perfect for a little boy.”

design it

Interior-design veteran Alexandra Kidd appointed staff member Jessica Gombault as lead designer on the project. Together, the pair sketched out significant changes to both the ground floor and the upstairs rooms. “We took advantage of every inch of space,” says Alexandra – “literally every inch!”

On the ground floor, the designers doubled the footprint of the rear kitchen, adding an impressive marble island and custom joinery plus space for the family to sit and relax. Under the staircase, a built-in cupboard and wine racks were installed to take advantage of space that might otherwise have been wasted.

Upstairs, the main bedroom was expanded as planned. Meanwhile, the remainder of the middle bedroom and a portion of the old bathroom were given over to the new bedroom. “That room had a very low ceiling, and yet the house had a peaked roof at the back. So, we decided to raise the ceiling,” say the owners. Extra windows and a skylight were also added there.

Accentuating the home’s improved natural light was a priority for the designers, says Alexandra. “We introduced light, warm timber flooring throughout, and soft whites to carry the natural light from the new glass ceiling at the back of the home through towards the front. We also introduced moments of vibrant colour and bold metallics to provide playful interest.”

do it

With so much to accomplish, the designers warned the owners that the process could take some time. They were right because in the end the renovation lasted seven months. “That’s seven months of six-days-per-week work. And the builders didn’t work on any other projects for the duration.”

The first month was spent removing a large amount of material from the house. “By that stage it was a shell. We did that deliberately to make sure it was properly rebuilt into a modern terrace, but with the original architectural features – the high ceilings and Victorian fireplaces – preserved.”

While it was obvious the house had good bones, the project wasn’t without some nail-biting moments. “The extension was an engineering feat,” Alexandra reveals. “We had to remove external walls and hold the rest of the house up with a forest of steel pillars before craning in a couple of oversized beams.”

Along the way, the owners found themselves upgrading many of the interior details they’d initially decided on, adding toprange wallpaper and marble, bronze and copper fixtures throughout. “Alexandra and Jessica pushed us out of our comfort zone,” say the owners. “We’re very practical, but they showed us things that were very beautiful for the sake of beauty.”

Looking back, the designers skillfully guided the couple through what was, in hindsight, a hugely ambitious renovation. “The enthusiasm Alexandra and her team brought to the project meant that we finished the whole thing feeling great,” they say. “So much so, we could see ourselves doing something similar again.”