This Federation home on Sydney’s lower north shore was in a bad state when Jon and Nikki Moss bought it in late 2015. But you’d never know it now, looking at its sympathetically and beautifully restored facade.
It was sold to them by an elderly man who had lived alone for many years after bringing his children up there. “The home needed a lot of TLC,” says Nikki. “It had been let go over the years and was not in a great state when we purchased it.”
A lot of work was needed before even moving in. “We ripped up lino and carpet to reveal original old Baltic pine floorboards throughout. We un-boarded two original fireplaces which were surrounded by some beautiful old tiles, and we stripped the walls and threw on some paint.”
Once in, they set about getting DA approval for more major works. With the home being in a Heritage Conservation Area, they knew they had to renovate it in a way that protected and conserved its special character and streetscape.
When their plans, designed by Contemporary Architecture, were approved in late 2017, they began stage one with In & Out Building Group. The entire front wall of the house was collapsing and needed rebuilding.
Builder Ray Azizi and his team found this the most challenging part of the entire project. Nikki and Jon also spent a long time sourcing the right bricks, the right mortar and paint colours, windows and awnings. “We wanted and needed the front exterior to be sympathetic to the federation home it was,” Nikki adds.
Stage one also saw a slight extension to the home, a new kitchen, bathroom and laundry and an attic storage area added in roof, as well as backyard landscaping and decking.
Stage two included a carport, front fence and landscaping, with all of the above completed within two years.
“There were so many decisions to make throughout this renovation, which can be stressful at times, but we absolutely love the home now,” Nikki says.
Builder Ray says the original kitchen and living areas weren’t working for the couple and their two daughters and there was a disconnect to the backyard, something now so key to our modern Australian way of living.
His personal favourite part of the project is the kitchen with its servery window to the large outdoor entertaining deck area with landscaped gardens.
“The street appeal made the biggest difference in this leafy suburb, with the new carport and multi-level landscaped gardens,” Ray says. “The clients absolutely loved the end result and were a delight to work with. We just wanted to be be part of this transformation.”
Photos: Jim Gleeson
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