The extensive renovation of an old freestanding home in Balgowlah Heights, Sydney, completed in 2006. The house has been extensively altered in the early 1980s with a Moroccan theme comprising arches, coloured glass, wrought iron, and more arches. Our approach was to strip away all of the previous alterations to rediscover the fine proportions and elegant simplicity of the original house. A balcony was reinstated on the rear of the house to the waterside, as was an entry vestibule on the street façade. The existing windows were replaced with new timber joinery, and the windows were re-proportioned. While the exterior is brought back to a subtly modified version of it’s original form with a slate roof, roughcast rendered walls and new timber joinery, the interior underwent a more extensive and radical alteration. The internal planning was changed to create a large open plan living, dining, kitchen area that opens directly to a terrace and the reinstated balcony, while a main bedroom suite comprising bedroom, dressing room, ensuite and study are on the southern part of the upper level separated from living spaces by the main entry circulation. The proportioning of the spaces and the framing of spectacular harbour views is enhanced with clean detailed flush skirtings, full height pivot doors, and ceiling covers to conceal blinds and air conditioning grilles.

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