Embracing Time

Despite a narrow site footprint of 5m in width, East Juliett aims to encourage an animated and layered lifestyle

Capturing its past character and expressing its continued charm, this Sydney home contributes to the heritage fabric of the city’s inner-west district

Photography: Walters Macri | www.wm.studio/

After an extensive renovation and extension, East Juliett’s previous self was given a new life while maintaining its original intent through a considered reworking of the home’s internals, and an opening up to allow natural light in from various directions.

In preserving key materials such as the exposed original brickwork and detailed façade, contemporary insertions add a modern refinement. While the home takes reference from its origins, it respects the eclectic nature of its context and aims to capture an element of its inner-west bohemian spirit. Timber is layered with patterned and expressive stonework, coloured tiles and painted plaster to form the base for the floating stair and integrated joinery to conceal amenity.

While remaining true to the crafted details of its Federation-era past, crisply conceived modern additions are interwoven throughout. Although not blanketed by any heritage encumbrances, it was a priority for the owners to maintain and celebrate the home’s past.

The restoration and renovation works saw the opening up and breaking down of a pre-existing formality to create meaningful connections to site and encourage natural light inward

Through the insertion of patterned stone, clean lines, painted plaster walls and refined timber details, craft and a contemporary refinement are brought together with purpose in the dine-in kitchen

As a single-fronted workers cottage, one in a row of four, the home is included under the Llewellyn Estate Heritage Conservation Area. The narrow 5m façade and frontage play a key role in contributing to the streetscape and its architectural lineage.

As such, the renovation works needed to respectfully be linked in some way to the original intent. An aperture above the stair carves into the horizontal plane to allow natural light into the home, while a northern courtyard is inserted in the middle to bring additional light into the belly of the home.

In improving and elevating the internal lived experience, a number of the existing heritage features were restored and reinstated, such as the original brick walls

As the landing and study nook demonstrate, East Juliett is flooded with natural light that animates the spaces throughout the day

With the addition allowing for the creation of a designated master ensuite on the upper levels, all bedrooms retain elements of their original heritage

In extending the ground floor, two additional bedrooms, bathroom and a combined living, dining and kitchen area open to a curated rear garden and entertaining space. On the upper level, set back and hidden from view on street level, the addition allows for the creation of a designated master bedroom suite and study.

Making way for a considered and useable outdoor rear landscaped garden also saw the removal of a remnant outdoor toilet and shed, which is then softened with natural plantings on the bounding edges.

The result is a home that embraces its story and forms the foundation for the supplementary chapters to come.

One of the new bedrooms created by the addition of the ground floor extension

Project: East Juliette Location: Sydney, Australia Design firm: Sandbox Studio | www.sandboxstudio.com.au Project size: 118 sq-m Site size: 177 sq-m

Subtle peach and pink dominate the colour palette in the modern bathroom