Light House
Celebrating and reviving the character of a 1920s bungalow in Sydney’s Eastern Suburb was at the heart of this lovely, light-filled renovation by Georgina Wilson
SQUARE METRES
840 sqm
BUILDER
Peter Kouzomis
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dave Wheeler
STYLIST
Claire Delmar
The challenge of renovating this 1920s house began with looking past the dark, disjointed interior and ungainly modern tweaks that had been made, and focusing on the essence of the building. Redesigning a generous, open, family-friendly home for the new owners involved comprehensive gutting and reconfiguration of the layout, then embracing – and enhancing – original elements. The textures of sandstone and timber were retained, with scalloped shingles added to the exterior and curved motifs to the interior bringing a softening effect. Thanks to the inspired use of textured and softly coloured glass, as well as a profusion of windows and skylights, the house is flooded with light and seamlessly connected to its outdoor setting.
Light House
Celebrating and reviving the character of a 1920s bungalow in Sydney’s Eastern Suburb was at the heart of this lovely, light-filled renovation by Georgina Wilson
SCOPE
Full Interior & Architectural Design
SQUARE METRES
840 sqm
BUILDER
Peter Kouzomis
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dave Wheeler
STYLIST
Claire Delmar
The challenge of renovating this 1920s house began with looking past the dark, disjointed interior and ungainly modern tweaks that had been made, and focusing on the essence of the building. Redesigning a generous, open, family-friendly home for the new owners involved comprehensive gutting and reconfiguration of the layout, then embracing – and enhancing – original elements. The textures of sandstone and timber were retained, with scalloped shingles added to the exterior and curved motifs to the interior bringing a softening effect. Thanks to the inspired use of textured and softly coloured glass, as well as a profusion of windows and skylights, the house is flooded with light and seamlessly connected to its outdoor setting.
The owners, a couple with one child and another on the way – came to me to help make their house more suitable for family life, both everyday and entertaining. With a sizeable extended family who love hosting large gatherings, optimising the space to accommodate this was a key factor of the redesign. Whether it was Christmas with fifty relatives or a small family dinner on a Sunday, the home needed to support how they lived.
The butler's pantry is a functional gem we designed with the family's entertaining needs in mind — adjacent to the kitchen, it contains fridges, freezers and a coffee station that help minimise visual clutter in the kitchen, while connecting directly through new doors to the outside barbecue area.
We redesigned and refitted all facades to new timber frames with double-glazed glass, solving the challenges of noise and privacy concerns given the proximity to neighbours and the house's location on a busy road.
Connecting the house more effectively to its surrounds also involved the demolition of a bunker in the backyard, which had been built during World War II. We subsequently developed and enhanced the lovely garden, building a new outdoor patio and barbecue area to become an extension of the house's open-plan living area.
We addressed the lack of light through the addition of a skylight over the relocated staircase and the incorporation of textured glass in most windows and doors, which now draw light in and allow it to travel through the house.
