playing it cool

a neglected Victorian-era cottage in sydney is transformed into a light-filled, contemporary-classic family home

Southeast of Sydney in the neighbourhood of Darling Point, this 230-squaremetre project consisted of remodelling an old cottage from the Victorian era, adding more space to provide its dwellers (a couple with three children) with a contemporary lifestyle.

The team behind Australian studio Alexander & Co. – led by principal Jeremy Bull – found a house in poor condition, which had not been renovated since the 1970s. The property had a lot of charm but was not functional. The architects and designers at Alexander & Co. reorganised all the spaces to create a better sense of flow on one side and pay tribute to the spirit of the place on the other.

On the exterior, where the white-painted brick structure was preserved, a small path adorned with blue-and-white geometric patterns leads to the entrance. Following the hall, which acts as a transitional space, the main living areas occupy the ground floor. The staircase was relocated to invite more natural light inside and improve the continuity between the different areas. ‘Our ambition was to pay homage to a traditional grand home within a limited footprint,’ says Jeremy. Alexander & Co. played with several historic references – such as the application of traditional paved limestone floors in the kitchen – but with a contemporary interpretation. ‘The project is beautiful in its exploration of finding the contemporary and grand within what is historic and compact, youthful but also reverential.’

The importance of textures (such as linen), the handmade and the robust spirit of the house in terms of materiality are

‘our ambition was to pay homage to a traditional grand home within a limited footprint’ JEREMY BULL

reflected through the elegant design. All surfaces were carefully considered; materials are authentic and brass details add a refined touch. In this four-bedroom, two-bath home built on a small plot, the proportions are perfect.

The limited colour palette expresses peacefulness and timelessness, which is particularly present in the airy living room where three French pivot doors open up to the terrace. In the dining room, which gives the feeling of being in a winter garden, a table for ten allows the owners to enjoy pleasant moments with their family and friends. The three children’s bedrooms and the couple’s master bedroom are located on the upper level. This clear separation between public and private areas helps to create a warm home and a tranquil refuge at the same time.

In this house, classic pieces of design by masters such as Charlotte Perriand, Gio Ponti and Warren Platner combine with furniture and accessories by contemporary designers including Tom Dixon and Neri&hu, as well as Armadillo & Co hand-woven rugs for a tactile effect. According to Jeremy, who considered every gesture and element to highlight refinement and authenticity, ‘this project is a delicate and slightly feminine study in the role of the contemporary classic’.

‘This project is a delicate and slightly feminine study in the role of the contemporary classic’ JEREMY BULL

THE NEUTRAL COLOUR PALETTE MAKES FOR A PRACTICAL, TIMELESS LOOK

LEFT an artwork by Shane Dunn hangs above a low table with ceramics and bronze vessels PREVIOUS SPREAD the ‘neptune’ chair by arflex is from poliform while the ‘malawi’ rug is from armadillo & co. above the fireplace is an artwork by David band and, above the pedestal, a piece by maria kostareva

RIGHT the ‘kalos’ armchair is from maxalto and the vases are from Spence & lyda and planet

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT in this house, living Spaces open outwards; the home perfectly captures the balance of classic Style and contemporary Design; the living room opens up to welcome the outdoors in; in the kitchen, much like the rest of the house, the colour palette is light and the lines are refined

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP a matthew hilton table, chairs by neri&hu and a blue warren platner chair from knoll; Stretcher-bond pattern tile work in the bathroom; a mix of found objects and highdesign pieces