



BIRKLEY
ROAD
The dilapidated state of this freestanding cottage on a tiny suburban block placed it in the 'too-hard basket' for most buyers, but not for one young family who instantly fell in love with its heritage charm and standout location. Their brief had two objectives: to celebrate the home's period features and create more living space for the family. A plan was hatched to restore the original home and juxtapose it with a contemporary open-plan rear extension.
The restoration stage included: salvaging original floors, and matching them with pre-loved timber boards, throughout, repointing the original brick facade, matching and replacing original tessellated porch tiles, restoring old pressed metal ceilings and original fireplaces and installing a skylight in the hallway to draw light in to the old part of the home.
For the rear extension, smart use of space was key. Seamless indoor/outdoor flow was achieved via full height glass sliders opening to an outdoor room with retractable awning. A kitchen servery doubling as an alfresco bar was specified for easy entertaining.
A simple clutter-free aesthetic was achieved in the kitchen with full-height joinery to conceal small appliances and a European-style laundry. This minimalist form was carried through to the bathrooms via frameless glass, large white rectified wall tiles, mirrors with hidden storage and simple wall-hung vanities.
Crisp white walls, dimmable warm light and wide polished timber floorboards were used throughout to create a consistent aesthetic between old and new.
WHERE
Manly
WHEN
2013