Australian Design Review

Ernest Street is a busy street. Our clients, the owners of this semi, usually entered this home from the rear lane. With the idea to renovate and extend, and with a desire for a more open and expansive living space, they began a conversion with us on their new home.

The strategy was simple: make the back the front, and the kitchen the social heart of the house. This doubled as the space where we could bring more light into the middle of the plan. We did this by coupling the courtyard with the kitchen, forming a dialogue between the two spaces with sliding windows and doors.

A rich palette of materials (Wenge timber veneer and limestone and stone hard surfaces) was chosen for the house. This gave the home a warm feel, and helped damp down the light.

A partially hidden stair to the parents’ area leads to a bedroom, robe, ensuite and nursery. A carterwilliamson-designed sliding screened window provides light, shade and privacy. Each room has two windows in each corner for cross ventilation.

*Team* Architect: Shaun Carter, Designers: Anna Williamson, Toby Breakspear