Woollahra

When Addy Hooper engaged Julia English Architects to revise and reimagine her heritage home in Woollahra, it wasn’t an average renovation project. Hooper is an accomplished designer in her own right, and her globally-dispersed family of five gravitate to the home as a central touchpoint when they converge on Sydney.

The design of the home gracefully transitions from the original Victorian style of the front living and bedrooms to the newer contemporary spaces, while reflecting the lifestyles and values of its inhabitants. Recognising the client’s love of hosting and bringing family and friends together, the open kitchen and dining room gently merge with the outdoor courtyard space.

As one in a row of five Victorian semi-detached houses in a heritage conservation area, the home has retained its original heritage fabric within the new design, with black still and black metal cladding adding a subtle update. The interior heritage elements continue to characterise the front of the home, with the signature Victorian ornate ceilings and antique stained-glass windows subtly balanced by the dark muted colour palette.