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| Terrace Makeover |
| From run down and musty to modern and spacious - an amazing transformation for this terrace house. |
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When Miamii and her husband bought this terrace home, it was run down, dark and musty. There was rising damp, the walls were wet to touch and the front courtyard was a jungle. They decided the only way they could make their mark and create their dream home, was to completely gut and renovate the terrace.
The renovations started two years ago, when the internal wall and carpet were removed to make the front room livable, while they decided what to do with the rest of the house. Living in the home during the renovations was an absolute nightmare, so the owners decided to move out until they were complete.
The owners wanted to open the house so they could see from the front courtyard all the way back to the rear sandstone wall. The open plan design was chosen to create a sense of light and space, with no delineation between the outside and in.
Miamii and her husband wanted a unique home with architectual flare and not the standard renovation of polished floors and steel. So they chose young, upcoming architect Scott Weston for the job. They admired his passion for design and willingness to compromise.
The terrace was demolished inside and fitted with the contemporary designed interior. The structure of the front façade and sides of the house weren't altered because of Heritage restrictions. However, the outside walls were rendered. The exterior is painted mauve with white windows and architraves to match the other terraces in the street.
A limestone floor gives the downstairs area a whole new. Miamii's husband suffers from allergies so they decided to keep the floors bare. The family, living and dining rooms are at the front of the lower storey. These rooms are interchangable and can be swapped with the seasons or if the owners become bored.
The terrace is only 4m wide so the laundry, kitchen and fridge are housed under the stairs in a 700mm wide white polyurethane joinery unit. The internal laundry replaces the old rotten wash shed outside. Also to economise on space, the kitchen island bench stands on castors and is easily wheeled away when not needed. The surface is blue quartz.
The stairwell is the focal point. The original staircase is repositioned in the other direction to open the room. The old stairs were steep and narrow (just 1900mm wide) so these were replaced with deep purple stairs with a softer and safer rise. Chocolate brown handrails with pink discs are another feature of the stairs, as is the 6m skylight above.
There are two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, with blackbutt lined floors and a timber deck balcony off each bedroom. The bedrooms are minimal, painted white, with the bed as a feature. One queen sized bed is chocolate brown with an upholstered green bedhead. There are slot holes in the bedhead and storage underneath.
Outside, the courtyard jungle is cut back and white concrete pavers are laid. The front brick wall and gate are replaced with a timber slatted, electronically operated retractable gate. The street is narrow and there is no access to the rear courtyard, so the owners plan to create a car space in the front.
White concrete pavers are also used in the rear courtyard, to help connect the areas. A 300mm deep reflection pond and fountain is also installed. Sharp, tall succulents are planted in red circular pots and a white batten fence lines the boundary.
The owners know there will be a mixture of reactions to their home — some people will love it and others will hate it. However, they wanted to create a home that reflects their tastes as it is not an investment property but a home for life. Miamii and her husband intend never to sell their unique terrace.
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More Info
This terrace was designed by Scott Weston Architecture & Design.
2/1 Taylor Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Ph: 02 9331 3317
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Disclaimer
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