Lorne Road is a semi-detached Edwardian cottage. Renovated several years after its neighbour, the alteration is sympathetic to the heritage and contemporary buildings, and the calm and cohesive interior is subtly embellished with gentle curves, eclectic details and atmospheric light. The clients, a family of five, engaged Foomann to refresh the heritage part of their house and design a two-storey extension accommodating a new living space, playroom, main bedroom and mezzanine study.

Guided by the heritage character of the streetscape, the upstairs addition aligns with the neighbour and its rectilinear form, while preserving the original gabled roof and chimney and stepping down to mediate the single-storey scale. Distinguished by Silvertop Ash cladding, its soft grey tone complements the original render details and rich red brick of the Edwardian home. Inside, the two front bedrooms are restored and refreshed, and a powder room added. Beyond these rooms, the new contemporary addition leads into the children’s playroom, with an adjacent bathroom, and then steps down to the kitchen, dining and living area. At the centre of the house, stairs lead to the parents’ zone upstairs, where there’s a bedroom, ensuite and walk-through robe, and a study with a void over the living area.

The void enhances the spaciousness of the modest family area. With windows in four directions over two storeys, the light is always changing, enhancing the atmosphere of the room. The glazed sliding doors stack away into a wall cavity to extend the space outside. The landscape, designed by Mud Office, is designed for family life and entertaining guests.

Upstairs in the mezzanine, the compressed height of the study window invites occupants to sit down and take in the views of the neighbourhood rooftops and the city through the north- and south-facing side windows of the void.

The interior involved collaborative exploration with the client and captures their enthusiasm for the project and reflects their childhood memories of home. One of the clients had grown up in a postmodern “Jetson-esque” house; the interior of Lorne Road seeks to translate this influence in an exuberant and sensitive way. In the kitchen, the ceiling softly curves up to the void to diffuse the light and shadows, and the joinery has steel-rod handles with playful curves. The bar, enclosed by a steel-framed glass door, incorporates a mix of decorative glass. Bathrooms, in vibrant burnt orange and deep olive green, carry the home’s playful spirit with curvaceous forms. Joinery adds golden warmth to the home, with the rotary-peeled spotted gum timber veneer having a unique grain and undulating mix of brown tones, The veneer also lines the stairwell where the recessed handrail is illuminated. Taj Mahal quartzite brings a soft and subtle texture to the kitchen island and bathroom vanities, and the green stone offcut for the marble bar was found when selecting the quartzite slabs.

Lorne Road harmoniously unites the heritage house and contemporary addition, and is enlivened with warm timber, playful curves and thoughtful details. The ever-shifting light adds another layer of embellishment as it illuminates surfaces, casts delicate shadows and amplifies the atmosphere.

Animation
Foomannimation by Isobel Knowles

Rear Facade
A dramatic double-height volume clad in silvertop ash defines the rear addition

Entry
Decorative glass patterns are introduced to the original entry and reinterpreted throughout the extension, creating a dialogue between heritage and contemporary details

Heritage
Rich red brick and rendered details of the Edwardian facade are refurnished and retained. The interior embraces original details in a contemporary manner

Kitchen
Spotted gum joinery meets Taj Mahal quartzite benchtop, topped by a gently curving ceiling that guides natural light through the void

Bar
The kitchen transitions to a bar enclosed by steel-framed glazed doors, featuring a green marble offcut discovered during material selection

Stair
Crafted in rotary-peeled spotted gum veneer, the stairwell features an illuminated recessed handrail detail that adds warmth and drama

Bathrooms
Expressive bathroom designs in burnt orange and olive green mosaic tiles reflect the home’s playful spirit through color and curved forms