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House tour: beautiful, modernised 110-year-old federation home

October 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

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I must confess I miss my (now sold) family home immensely. I never thought I’d be someone who’d missed an inanimate object; but here I am, longingly reflecting on the house I called home for some ten years.

So when I saw Step Down House designed by Bijl Architecture (the same team who transformed my old abode) I knew I’d be in love.

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A Sydney federation house with a modern extension, Step Down House fluently blends classical and contemporary. However, that wasn’t always the case. Rather the 110-year-old home initially had four small bedrooms and just the one living area — a challenge for a family with a social teenage daughter!

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So, with the desire to modernise their home and create a second living area, Linda Burger and her partner Michael undertook a nine month redevelopment, which included the creation of a second lounge room, a master bedroom, a large rear verandah, a modernised swimming pool and Linda’s favourite, a rear extension that gave way to a combined living/dining/kitchen area.

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“We love the sunny kitchen/dining area which drops down four steps to ground level, bringing the landscaped gardens into the living area. Its lofty, industrial feel is derived from the high ceilings, whitewashed bare brick feature wall and polished concrete kitchen island, all of which is softened by cedar woodwork (window frames and shelves) and bar stools. Then the wide glass bi-fold doors lead the eye to the landscaped gardens and swimming pool area.”

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While the classical style at the front of the house was retained, the focal point has certainly become the extension, with the polished concrete island being a particular highlight. “We love the polished concrete island in the kitchen which has become a focal point for all activities – entertaining, our daughter’s homework, breakfast, cooking, family discussions, handbags, mail – it’s quite hard to keep tidy, but it’s a happy spot.”

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Other highlights of the home include the lime washed floorboards: “We retained the original pine flooring in the older part of the house, but white washed them. This flows through to the Tasmanian oak floor boards in the new extension, also lime washed. The flooring brightens the entire home.”

Having lived in the home for 13 years prior to the renovation, Linda is well and truly in love with the finished product. “From the living area that flows through open bi-fold doors to the large rear deck, pool and gardens, to the cooler, newly created lounge room in the older part of our home… it’s all beautiful!”

For more on Bijl Architecture.

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Dream breakfast right there!🥑 Featuring my fav Dream breakfast right there!🥑

Featuring my favourite @thewholefoodsrefillery product EVER, mild chilli nut butter. Get the recipe and your code for 20% off your first order with them, on the homepage now, via link in bio.

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When interior designer @sarah_yarrow was renovatin When interior designer @sarah_yarrow was renovating her 50s home to sell she was determined to move away from the cookie cutter flip to sell look and went for something warmer, paying homage to its roots.

"People are much more likely to connect with something that feels warm and friendly and that doesn’t feel like the home up the street, or the one that their friend has just bought. And once they connect, they usually pay more,” she said. Sarah believes people usually crave a homely feel but don’t know how to create it themselves

See the whole home before and after on the homepage now via link in bio.

Pic: @the.palm.co 

#beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafterremodel #homelyhome #vjwalls #wallpaneling #bedheads #headboards #bedroomlighting #modernfarmhousedesign
This is the pits. Geddit?! 😆 This is the pits. Geddit?! 😆
This family home is next level. Literally! A stee This family home is next level. Literally!

A steeply sloping block isn't a typical prerequisite when building a new home. But it was for Perth architect Sam Klopper and his family who desired an elevated balcony (hello roof terrace!) AND a back yard that was accessed from the living area. And wow, they sure made the best of it!

Take the tour on the homepage now. Via link in bio.

#roofterrace #roofgardens #slopingblock #architectshome #perthhome #wahomes 

Project: @klopper_davis_architects
Photos by @dionrobeson
Before & after goodness alert ⚠️ Head on ove Before & after goodness alert ⚠️ 

Head on over to the blog this morning to meet serial flippers @renowayoflife Back in Australia after more than a decade renovating for profit and living debt and mortgage free in the UK and USA, they're onto their 15th house, a Queenslander, and this one they plan to actually keep and live in with their 3 kids!

It's an inspiring tale and we're sharing before and afters of 3 of their previous projects. Looking forward to sharing the progress of their current house in the coming weeks and months too 🤗

Via link in bio💛

#queenslanderrenovation #houseflippers #serialrenovator #renowayoflife #queenslanderhome
How's that for a pool?! This Noosa riverfront ab How's that for a pool?! 

This Noosa riverfront abode just won Home of the Year in the 2022 HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards. 

Take the tour and find out why. On the homepage now via linknin bio.

#poolsofinstagram #poolhome #swimmingpooldesign #houseoftheyear #riverfronthomes 

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(WIN!) It's not the weather to have damp washing e (WIN!) It's not the weather to have damp washing everywhere!

Let's make your life easier with this amazing laundry prize from @hillshomeliving 

One lucky winner will get a bamboo concertina, a bamboo sorting centre and 3 bamboo foldable baskets worth almost $250.

For your chance of winning follow us and @hillshomeliving and tag a friend below by midnight Sydney time next Friday 27 May. One entry per person.

The concertina and sorting centre are available at Big W and the baskets at Bunnings.

Open to Australian residents only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram.

#laundryinspo #laundryideas #laundryday
We've entered an exciting phase in our home: non-s We've entered an exciting phase in our home: non-synthetic rug land!

With two young boys, I've always advocated for the synthetic and easily scrub-cleanable rug! Now they're a bit older and observing the shoes-off and no-food-in-the-living-room rules, I thought it was time! And I'm in love with our bold new @castleryau Lorenzo Wool Rug.

You can't beat the luxurious look and feel of wool and I've also stepped outside my comfort zone with a design that stands out rather than blends in. Get me!

Can someone remind the kids about the keep-the-toys-in-the-playroom rule though?!

Would you be brave enough to go for a cream wool rug in your house?!

This rug is on display at Castlery's popup at Moore Park SupaCenta until October. 

#athomewithcastlery #rug #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #statementrug #gifted
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About Olivia Shead

When she's not writing for Interiors Addict, Olivia is now a TV and radio news producer. She's a journalism graduate of UTS Sydney.

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