Love & light

From the outside, some renovation projects seem to run with effortless efficiency. The relationship between the owners and the design and construction team runs smoothly and, needless to say, the end results are beautiful.

That is how this Paddington project by Modify appears. But, like the proverbial swan gliding gracefully across the water, a great deal of effort has gone into this house to achieve these sorts of results.

Modify architect and senior designer, Jeremy Unger, says that while the site was appealing, the existing house was not.

“It was a completely dilapidated, single-storey house on a rectangular block,” Unger says. “It was also freestanding, so it was a bit easier to work on than some houses in the area but it was not in good condition.”

Positioned in a heritage conservation area, the 1920s-era brick house was also totally unsuited to the needs of the couple who owned it and their two young children.

Modify offers a full service from start to finish, including architectural design, relevant regulatory approvals, construction and interior design, so Unger started by completely redesigning the ground floor, extending it at the back to focus on living spaces and adding a second floor to provide sleeping accommodation.

A key objective was to bring natural light and air flow into the house. Unger introduced a generous two-storey high void over the living and dining area on the ground floor that floods the whole house with light and elevates the ground floor spaces, making them feel larger and more sophisticated.

“It took a bit of convincing with the clients who were not sure about sacrificing that first-floor space,” says Unger. “But now there is always natural light throughout the home. There are also skylights placed all over the house, including in the bathrooms, and they all open to allow air to flow through.”

Given the original condition of the house, it was completely demolished except for the heritage facade, and rebuilt. The house now has four bedrooms, with one on the ground floor serving as a playroom for the kids. Upstairs, there are an additional three bedrooms.

“The two bedrooms for the kids are mirrors of each other, with a little desk to the side, plus a master bedroom with ensuite and walk-in robe,” Unger says.

While the house provides everything the owners asked for, perhaps the surprise here is what you don’t see. Special attention has been paid to storage options in the house, an imperative for busy families.

“I wanted everything to feel integrated,” Unger says. “The idea is that when everything is shut, it is all clean and tucked away.”

While the staircase is in the middle of the ground floor space, you could almost miss it, creating a greater sense of privacy for the upper floor.

The transformation is even more remarkable when you consider that the whole process, from design to completion, took just under a year. Unger says this was partly down to the integration of design professionals available at Modify, as well as the responsiveness of the owners.

“The owners gave us free reign with creativity, that’s why the job progressed so quickly,” he says. “They were also quick to respond to questions. They knew what they wanted, which is super helpful, but they didn’t drive the design.”

Modify was responsible for designing the joinery, as well as specifying finishes and furniture. They opted for a restrained palette of oak timber and white with pops of sea-foam green in the light fittings, floor-length curtains and bathroom tiles.

The result is a house that lives large on a deceptively small block. The beautiful swan has arrived.

ALMA STREET HOUSE

Architecture, build, interior design: Modify

Photography: David Wheeler