A Thoughtful Transformation: Revitalizing a 1940s Double-Brick Cottage
Tasked with transforming a tired 1940s double-brick stucco cottage into a refined and functional family home, the design approach centered on enhancing livability while maintaining an understated elegance.
A careful reconfiguration of the existing floor plan modernised the spatial layout, optimizing the home’s connection to light, landscape, and contemporary family living. The kitchen, dining, and alfresco areas were extended and strategically reoriented to the north, ensuring abundant natural light throughout the year. This reorientation also allowed for a seamless indoor-outdoor transition, with framed garden vistas enhancing the spatial experience. Practicality was equally prioritised, with the relocation of the laundry and mudroom towards the rear of the home and the addition of a new garage to accommodate the family’s evolving needs.
Materiality and aesthetic cohesion played a central role in the transformation. Collaborating with Sydney-based interior designer Greta Unkuri, the design narrative embraced a palette of white, soft greys, and timber accents, drawing inspiration from the classic elegance of Queenslander and Hamptons-style architecture. The result is a home that exudes warmth, sophistication, and timeless charm.
The construction, expertly executed by Balding Constructions, brought the design vision to life with outstanding craftsmanship. The project was beautifully captured by Adrian Merrigan of Merrigan Photography, documenting a home that seamlessly merges original charm with contemporary refinement.
Project at a glance:
Builder: Balding Constructions
Interior Designer: GU Interiors
Photographer: Merrigan Photography
“GPG Architecture & Design totally transformed our property and took it from a true ugly duckling to a gorgeous swan in our street!
We get so many comments on how lovely our house looks, and we attribute that to Gioia’s vision, experience, and her sense of style. She knows what looks good!
Her help with colours, floorplan, and how to tie in an older property, with a brand-new larger addition, was worth the extra investment! We have no doubt using GPG has added much more value to our property, than if we were to just come up with our own plans, and fumble around trying to find a builder and manage the major renovation ourselves.
Thanks Gioia and team, we love our home!! ”