Sam Crawford Architects has refreshed and rationalised the interiors of this townhouse in Sydney’s Blackwattle Bay to create an expanded, streamlined and light-filled home with a focus on the beautiful things in life, including art, objects, books, and views of the bay and city skyline beyond.
The first step in this renovation was to shift and expand the kitchen and living areas by moving the study. The newly enlarged kitchen features a generous brass-clad island bench as a centrepiece, with green tiles on the splashback, white cabinetry on the back wall and black cabinetry on the island. Along one side of the kitchen and adjoining living area, a wall of plain white cupboard doors conceals a large pantry to the left and a stunning drinks cabinet and bar with wine storage in warm timber to the right.
The intelligence of moving parts that conceal or display storage and functional spaces in this home makes for a design that can be open and utilitarian, or hidden away behind white doors like a minimalist’s dream. This functionality is repeated in the timber floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the living room whose sliding doors conceal a television and whose sliding ladder allows access to books on the top shelf. This choice – to make a feature of a finely-crafted timber bookcase – is enough to excite any book-lover.
A new skylight brightens the master bathroom, while the previously dark staircase has been brightened by inclining the sides of a central skylight. A new study has been created on the mezzanine level, while additional storage and living space has been added in the basement.
Even more impressive in this home is the attention to detail when it comes to environmental impact. The use of sustainably-sourced timbers and durable, longlasting materials that don’t require recoating means less impact on our natural resources, while all fittings have been replaced with LEDs on a centralised network to reduce energy use.
Sam Crawford says: “This project demonstrates how a well-designed set of spaces can be dramatically improved with a few key interventions.”
In this renovation, spaces are designed with flexibility, with careful consideration shown towards what should be concealed and what should be highlighted, with key display areas showing off books, objects and art. The design carefully considers every detail, removing elements like bulkheads that jar the eye to create a light-filled, streamlined space that is also environmentally conscious.
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