When the owners of a harborside family home in Chiswick, inner west Sydney, engaged an Australian designer to revive the of their five-bedroom property, the brief was for a short-term refresh before knocking it down and starting from scratch. However, spotting the property’s potential, the designer proposed an entire change of direction. ‘It was a tired home from the 1970s or early 1980s, but it had been largely untouched.
Most importantly, the architectural bones were great so I convinced the owners to do a full renovation instead of knocking it down,’ says Tamsin. She continues, ‘The brief was open; the client was invested in my process, which was great.’ To create a space suited to a young family, Tamsin proposed a reconfiguration of the layout centered around a large, , dining, and living area.
‘The architectural plan was worth saving and exploited the aspect well. However, we did make changes such as removing walls to capture more light and open up lines of sight.’ Tamsin was keen to make the most of the property’s waterfront views.
‘We made augmentations to walls and openings, so views could be enjoyed as you move around the house. We also rebuilt the balcony to exploit the aspect.’ Certain features were replaced while others were preserved, including the pitched roof and beamed ceiling.
‘I liked the design language, it felt coastal and relevant,’ says Tamsin. ‘We removed brown anodized metal fenestrations and opted for timber windows that sit .
