When this federation cottage in Sydney's Paddington went to auction, it was a nerve-wracking experience for bidders Josh Carolan and Sally Badger. The couple had a lot riding on it, as it was already their home. They had been living there as renters for nearly two years, which had given them time to see its full potential.
"We always dreamed of renovating," Sally says. "It's a cute little cottage in a really good spot, but the whole time we were living here we just thought we could make this a much better place to live." Thankfully they won the auction and brought their plans to life.
Sally and Josh knew architect Adam Higginbotham, co-director of architecture and interior design studio Michiru Higginbotham, through friends and knew he was the perfect choice for the job. With builder Michael Saify, from Insync Projects, on board and Kealan Gavin from NorthKeel Interiors doing the joinery, the couple's dream home was in sight.
Before the renovation, the cottage was split into two storeys, with a bedroom, living and dining area plus a separate kitchen all on the street entrance level. Space was tight but downstairs, in the area that led to the courtyard, there was only one bathroom and a really large laundry.
"It was a classic worker's cottage, that was built pre-1900, and it hadn't really changed," says Josh. All in all, it just wasn't functional. The team came up with a new floor plan, which saw the upper level converted to make way for two bedrooms, a bathroom and a study, while the lower level became an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space that opened out onto the courtyard.
The cottage was shockingly dark, but clever new design features fixed this problem, common in older homes.
A skylight went in above the stairs, near a north-facing window, and perforated steel was installed along the stairwell, balustrade wall and study floor. This allowed plenty of natural light to flood into areas of the downstairs that had previously been shrouded in shadows, creating an inviting oasis. "It's a very calming, peaceful space now," says Sally.
Prior to the renovation, Josh describes the downstairs area as "a bit of a nothing space", housing a bathroom and laundry, while the rest of the rooms were squeezed into the upper level.
Now, it's an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area that maximises space and creates a smooth transition from the interior to the courtyard. The small footprint meant there was no space for a kitchen island, so clean lines reign supreme with the fridge and other appliances hidden behind joinery.
The use of natural materials, like timber and stone, gives the space a warm, peaceful feeling.