A Queensland federation home built in the 1880s has been renovated to include a hidden modern extension out the back.
The end result has allowed the five-bedroom four-bathroom home to retain its original characteristics while combining the best of modern minimalist living.
According to the home’s owner Ross Garland, the idea was to embrace the property’s charm while creating something entirely new.
‘We didn’t want to try and replicate the old, we wanted something that had its own integrity,’ he told RealEstate.com.au.
FRONT: This stunning 1880s five-bedroom home in Queensland (pictured) has been completely renovated but in a way that preserves its old world charm
BEHIND: The modern open-plan extension to the federation home was envisioned by architect Kieron Gait and features a wall of bi-fold windows opening to a sprawling garden
The kitchen has become the focal point of the home and is made more spectacular by the fact it features a wall of bi-folding doors
The design brief, handed to Queensland architect Kieron Gait, was centred on creating spaces that were open-plan and light to allow the natural beauty of the home’s large rear section to be a focal point.
A new kitchen and living area were installed across the ground floor. The open plan area comes with a wall of bi-folding doors which open on to an outdoor entertaining area.
This area merges the indoor-outdoor aspect thanks to its clever use of limestone flooring, as well as other touches such as spot lighting.
Natural timber has been used extensively throughout this portion of the home, a design feature which helps soften the transition between old and new
Fusing old and new: Here the original part of the house features original timber flooring which has been lightly stained to a natural hue
In a nod to its heritage, natural timber has been used as a feature throughout the home, and can be seen on cupboards, a dining island and in all of the main living areas.
As well as creating new areas for the family to relax in, the renovation has also maximised the large outdoor area with the installation of a pool.
‘We have a lovely large garden with a large pool – we have the best of both worlds,’ Mr Garland told the publication.
The home boasts four bathrooms including this one which was given a modern update as part of the renovation project by Queensland architects Kieron Gait
The property also comes with a chic full-sized pool that has been fenced off in glass to ensure there’s no visual disruption
While this renovation proves it’s possible to marry old and new seamlessly, it’s not the only home that features an architecturally designed rear extension.
A heritage-listed property, situated in Sydney’s Hunters Hill, was re-designed by Joshua Mulders Architects with the goal of creating a modern entertainment zone in the rear the whole family can enjoy.
The residence is an example of Australian period homes in the 1920s and is surrounded by other freestanding properties with medium to large-sized gardens.
FRONT: From the front facade this elegantly designed period home from 1927 with a white picket fence and awnings has all the makings of the perfect family home
A renovation took place in the 1980s but it didn’t fit the current owner’s expectations of how a family home should operate moving into the future.
‘The primary brief was to create a more modern, open plan layout to the rear with some modification to the existing internal bedrooms to the front,’ the architects said.
One of the challenges faced by the architectural team was to find a way to create more privacy as the neighbouring home was close enough to peer directly into the the grounds of the property.
BACK: The property, which is located within a heritage conservation area in Hunters Hill, Sydney, was redesigned by Joshua Mulders Architects with the goal of creating a modern entertainment zone in the rear the whole family can enjoy
The brickwork they removed to create the very open back deck was moved into the house to maintain its ‘period’ look, and can be seen in the kitchen and living areas
That’s when the clever ‘blinker’ – which almost resembles a darker version of Sydney’s Opera House sails – came into fruition.
‘The concept of a “blinker” between these two zones was discussed, which assisted in the division of these two areas creating privacy and also leading to an architectural direction of the rear facade,’ they said.
The brickwork they removed to create the very open back deck was moved into the house to maintain its ‘period’ look, and can be seen in the kitchen and living areas.
They had an issue with the neighbouring home being close enough to look directly into their backyard entertaining area, so it was the job of Joshua Mulders’ team to ensure the family could get back some much-needed privacy
This emphasised a connection between what was old and new.
These dark bricks have been complimented by oak flooring and to break up the textures the owner had a concrete kitchen island bench installed.
It’s a captivating look that can’t be appreciated until you see the front and back of the home.