Client Brief -  To transform the dysfunctional split two-storey, two-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling into a three-bedroom and bathroom home with and integrated indoor/outdoor retreat space and larger living area.

Concept -  The house was designed in the 1960’s by Payne & Hunt Architects and retained its original condition: exposed brick and ample mission brown painted timber. Whilst the brickwork remains a celebrated textural feature, the house blossoms into an energetic design playground bursting with colour as a reflection of the owners’ commitment to ‘joyful living.’

Structural Changes - An original rabbit warren-like floorplan sees a relocation of the kitchen from upstairs to the ground floor (a third guest bedroom, loft with study and ensuite replaces it). Rejecting a conventional layout, a custom brick plinth delineates the new kitchen from the living area. This addition dually serves as an open liquor display.

The removal of the existing rear façade and realigning it with the storey above expands the lounge area’s footprint. Bold crazy paving now connects the internal and external living areas. Flat bars replace enclosing wooden balustrades on the staircase, whilst bathroom walls are divided by colorful timber dowels to separate bed from bath, further extending the spatial parameters of the rooms whilst enabling ample natural light to flow freely.

Colour & Materiality - Colour plays a pivotal role with contrasting quiet and bold schemes. Warm shades of white, mushroom pinks – including the stairway leading to the first floor – and black are the base neutral shades holding everything together to create harmony, whilst the brighter and deeper shades draw attention to the living areas and modular hero décor items. Local company, Lymesmith, developed a colour palette to complement the exposed brick walls using bold tones on the surrounding surfaces, culminating with a mural on the bricks themselves directly behind the new fireplace selected for its vintage appeal.