Architecture, Interiors, Model Making & Furniture Design
Bringing the North In
Residential architecture | Renovation & alteration | Interior design | Construction coordination
This residential renovation focused on carefully transforming an existing home while improving its functionality, comfort and connection to the outdoors. A new north-facing opening with custom timber doors brings natural light, warmth and a stronger relationship with the exterior into the living spaces, complemented by new Ironbark timber flooring, a refined colour palette, custom cabinetry and a series of external improvements.
Rather than treating the existing house as something to be completely replaced, the approach was to work with what was already there, identifying opportunities to improve the home through carefully considered interventions. The result is a more contemporary and connected interior while retaining a sense of warmth, familiarity and continuity with the existing home.
The renovation began with an understanding of the existing house, its structure, orientation and established relationship with the garden. Rather than imposing a completely new architectural language, the design sought to reveal and strengthen the qualities already present within the home.
The key design opportunity was to improve the relationship between the interior and exterior while introducing greater natural light and a more contemporary material palette. The north-facing opening became an important intervention: new custom timber doors created a stronger connection to the outdoors and allowed daylight to penetrate further into the living spaces.
The design therefore focused on opening, connecting and simplifying rather than simply adding more.
The scope set out in three dimensionsopen it full size ↗
The material palette was selected to create a warmer and more contemporary interior while maintaining a sense of connection with the existing home.
Ironbark timber flooring introduces a natural warmth underfoot and establishes a continuous material language through the living areas. The timber is complemented by a restrained colour palette, cabinetry and carefully selected finishes, allowing the natural character of the materials to remain visible rather than overwhelming the interior.
The intention was not to create a highly decorative interior, but one where material, light and proportion work together quietly.
Ironbark laid, and the same floor finished.
The renovation improved the relationship between the individual interior spaces, creating a more cohesive environment for everyday family life. New cabinetry provides additional storage while contributing to the overall visual order of the interior, and the revised finishes and flooring establish continuity between the different areas of the home.
The design also considered the practical requirements of contemporary living, including updated air conditioning, electrical services and other building improvements. These interventions were integrated as discreetly as possible so that the architectural experience remained the focus.
A successful renovation is not only about what can be seen. The project required coordination of existing and new building services, including air conditioning and electrical upgrades, alongside the architectural and interior changes.
These elements were carefully coordinated with the new openings, cabinetry and interior finishes to minimise visual disruption. The work demonstrates an important aspect of renovation design: the visible architectural result is often dependent on careful coordination of elements that remain largely unseen.
The room during constructionThe subfloor down and the new opening cut.
The renovation extended beyond the interior to include a series of external improvements that strengthened the relationship between the house and its surroundings. These interventions were considered as part of the overall transformation rather than as separate additions, helping to create a more cohesive transition between the renovated interior, the new opening and the outdoor environment.
The project developed through the process of architectural design, interior selection and construction coordination. As Project Architect, Lee developed the design and coordinated the transformation of the existing home through to construction, requiring the existing conditions, architectural changes, interior finishes and building services to work together as one coordinated design.
Good design is not only about how something looks; it is about how all the individual elements come together to create a coherent whole.
Natural light became an important part of the renovation. The new north-facing opening and custom timber doors were carefully introduced to strengthen the relationship between the living areas and the exterior.
The timber framing and doors provide warmth and tactility, while the larger opening creates a visual extension of the interior toward the garden. This intervention changed more than the appearance of the room. It altered the experience of the space — allowing light, landscape and movement between inside and outside to become part of everyday living.
The threshold detailedThe slab cut down so the sill sits flush with the internal floor. Open it full size ↗
One of the defining elements of the renovation is the new opening to the north. The custom timber doors create a threshold that can change according to how the space is being used — connecting the interior to the garden when open, while providing enclosure and comfort when closed.
The intervention creates a stronger sense of indoor–outdoor living, allowing the exterior landscape to become visually and spatially connected to the interior. The timber also introduces a tactile quality that contrasts with the more contemporary finishes within the renovated spaces.
A quick hand sketch was used to resolve the junction between the existing kitchen floor tiles and the new timber floorboards. The transition was carefully detailed to ensure the finished surfaces were flush and did not create a trip hazard.
The board itselfChecking the profile before the run was set out.
The builder marked out the existing wall for removal and demolition to create the new timber door opening. Temporary propping was installed at the soffit to provide structural support before the door head and jamb were constructed to form the new structural opening.
The wall opened up, and the roof carried on temporary props while the new head and jamb were built.
The existing downpipe was removed to make way for the new door opening. Once the new timber door was complete, the external rendering was made good and repainted to suit.
The existing electrical power point was removed and the opening closed off where the new door was to be located. The electrician disconnected the existing outlet and relocated the power point to a suitable position to accommodate the new door opening and revised wall layout.
The new circuit run from the roof space down to the relocated outlet.
The builder constructed a new external timber step at the door opening. The door threshold was carefully aligned flush with the internal timber floorboards, creating a smooth transition between the interior and exterior and avoiding a trip hazard.
Before and after — the same wall.
This project was an opportunity to explore how relatively focused architectural interventions can transform the experience of an existing home. I particularly valued the relationship between light, timber, landscape and interior space. The new north-facing opening became more than a new door — it became a new connection between the house and its garden.
The project also reflects the way I approach design more broadly: starting with the existing conditions, understanding what is important, and then introducing carefully considered interventions rather than changing everything unnecessarily.
The experience of working across architecture, interiors, materials, services and construction continues to inform the way I think about three-dimensional form today. For me, design is about finding the balance between function, material, light and the human experience of space.
Details matter.
For enquiries, please contact lee.anchor@optusnet.com.au.