Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

A Cozy Aussie Cottage Hides a Sleek Renovation Behind a Heritage Facade

A Cozy Aussie Cottage Hides a Sleek Renovation Behind a Heritage Facade

A modest weatherboard house receives a playful update to accommodate a family of five in Sydney.

Although Sydney-based architecture firm Clayton Orszaczky dubbed this 1,615-square-foot residence the Workers House, it’s anything but serious business at the welcoming Bondi Junction home. For a young family of five-with a new poodle puppy, Dudley, in tow-the revamped dwelling is a place that celebrates play, not work.



"It’s a humble home with little tweaks that make for playfulness," says Rebekah Clayton, coprincipal at the local firm. These "little tweaks" are an impressive feat given the limitations the architects were faced with when renovating the original timber cottage, such as spatial restrictions, heritage regulations, and budget constraints. The goal was to embrace all that made the Australian weatherboard house special-its cozy details, the verdant garden-and max out the floor plan to better suit the modern family.



For the renovation, the architects decided the original weatherboard facade would stay, but a cantilevered rear addition would be incorporated on top of the existing structure. The interior walls would also be blown out to make way for an open-plan kitchen and living area, as well as three comfortable bedrooms, a trio of bathrooms, and a study-with a few fun details along the way.



Upstairs, bunk beds are notched into the roof of the original cottage, as well as a crawl space that connects the children’s bedrooms. In the kitchen, Smartstone Cararra surfaces are paired with custom polyurethane cabinets that feature routed paneling. A built-in bench for the dining nook features the same charming millwork. Throughout the living areas, oak engineered hardwood brings a layer of warmth to each bright and airy space.



Despite its striking addition and renovation, the Workers House blends in seamlessly with the rest of the neighborhood from the street. "In some ways this house is the opposite of a standout, and that’s what we consider to be its greatest success," Clayton says.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×