A compact Edwardian cottage was transformed from a dark, maze-like plan into a light-filled, two-storey home with a concealed rear extension, preserved street-facing heritage features, and bold, colourful interiors tailored to a downsizing couple.
Heritage exterior preserved: original Edwardian front, terrace, iron palisade, porch tiles and front door were retained while the rear was reconfigured.
Concealed two-storey extension: a light-filled open-plan kitchen, living and dining area plus a master retreat with a cathedral-like ceiling sit behind the original rooms.
Material and spatial strategy: brick and timber references, exposed brick threshold, gable roof reconfiguration, and reused original timber windows and floor tiles connect old and new.
# Project overview
Dean and Fran bought a 1904 worker's cottage in Lilyfield as a downsizer. The house presented a common heritage challenge: a well-preserved street facade that hid a dark, maze-like series of rear rooms. The homeowners wanted something comfortable for two that still felt spacious and connected to the garden, while complying with strict local heritage oversight.
# What the architects did
Architects Adam Higginbotham and Michiru Cohen of Michiru Higginbotham kept the Edwardian street presence intact and inserted a discreet, contemporary two-storey extension at the rear. The extension contains an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area on the ground floor and a master retreat above with a calm, cathedral-like ceiling.
# Interior approach and materials
Instead of erasing original details, the team retained and reused key fabric: timber windows, floor tiles and wall lining were kept in the project. The preserved facade elements include the raised terrace, iron palisade, original front door and decorative front porch tiles.
The new rear volume emphasizes light, colour and personality. The kitchen connects directly to the garden to suit Dean and Fran's love of cooking and gardening. Specific interior touches mentioned in the source include a checkered cork kitchen wall inspired by a Kylie Kwong restaurant, vintage and curated furniture pieces, ceramics, and art by Anna Curnuck.
# How the design serves downsizing
The architects framed downsizing as an opportunity to rethink compact living. Their strategy focused on:
The result aimed to give the homeowners the comfort and spatial freedom of their former larger family house without the upkeep.
# Notable spatial moments
A highlighted moment in the project is the sequence through the original hallway that suddenly opens into the bright, unexpected volume of the rear extension. The exposed brick threshold materially and visually links the old and new parts of the house.
# Furnishings and finishing notes
# Takeaway for similar projects
If you're renovating a heritage cottage and need to downsize in place: preserve authentic street-facing elements, consider a discreet rear addition for daylight and floor area, use material continuity (brick, timber) to knit old and new, and prioritize key lifestyle connections such as kitchen-to-garden. Design choices that increase perceived volume—taller ceilings, clear thresholds, and strong daylight—can help a smaller footprint feel roomy and suited to long-term living.
Tucked into the backyard of her family’s Newcastle home, artist Madeline Jovicic has put a cool-girl spin on the traditional ‘granny’ flat. Described as a little bit Scandi, a little bit Japanese and a little bit retro, the 50-square-metre home pairs butter-yellow joinery with playful pops of colour, glass bricks and c
In a time when many of Brisbane’s post-war cottages are being demolished to make way for new builds, this renovation by Leith Architects offers a different approach. With a central courtyard and bridge linking the existing home to a light-filled extension, the family home embraces indoor-outdoor living, proving how the
Melbourne-based architects CARD have a reputation for doing more with less, often helping clients with modest budgets unlock the untapped potential of their homes. This latest project in the city’s inner north, dubbed Thornbury Eucalyptus House, is no different. See how a series of clever, cost-effective strategies hel
In Clifton Hill, Australia, architecture firm Mihaly Slocombe has transformed an unassuming Edwardian weatherboard cottage into Fringe Dweller, a family home designed to accommodate three growing children while making much more of its unusual position opposite Quarries Park Reserve.
A 1910 cottage has been transformed into a four-bedroom home with panoramic rural views and an extraordinary collection of gardens
Older homes have unique charm because the layout includes special details that, typically, aren’t seen in modern builds today. Historic homeowners Alexander Rigby and Bobby Naugle, who live in a Pittsburgh townhouse built in 1900, have a gorgeous parlor room. The front room has a fireplace with an original wood mantel
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.