A Contemporary Update For A 1970s Brick House In Melbourne

March 21, 2017
Inbetween Architecture have designed the modern renovation of a 1970's double storey brown brick house near a park in Melbourne, Australia, that's home to a family of 5 that have outgrown the home.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Inbetween Architecture have designed the modern renovation of a 1970’s brick house in Melbourne, Australia, that’s home to a family of five that had outgrown the original house.

Let’s have a look at what the house looked like before the renovation. At the front of the home there’s a balcony that was attached to the front porch, and unfortunately this meant that the front curtains in the original living room were always closed for privacy reasons and ended up blocking the view of the park.

These are the before photos of an old 1970's Australian brick house that was updated into a modern, bright and airy home.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

And here’s a look at the renovated house. Bricks were salvaged during the demolition were used to create hit-and-miss brickwork that created privacy for the entryway and blocked off the view into the house from the street.


This renovated house has used bricks were salvaged during the demolition to create hit-and-miss brickwork that added privacy for the entryway and blocked off the view into the house from the street.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Inside the home, the interior, designed by Aldona Pajdak, is bright, modern and has plenty of flexible spaces, ideal for providing the adults and children with their own spaces to relax.

In the entryway (and throughout the house), a skylight is positioned directly above the front door, allowing natural light to fill the space.


In the entryway of this modern house, a skylight is positioned directly above the wooden front door lets natural light to fill the space.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

In the main floor of the house, a central timber-clad pod with matte black sliding barn doors conceals various rooms, like a small bathroom and cloak room.


In the main floor of this modern renovated house, a central timber-clad pod has matte black sliding barn doors that conceals various rooms, like a small bathroom and cloak room.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Off to the left of the front entrance is the living room that looks out towards the park across the street. The balcony, which fills both the living room and dining room with natural light, can be accessed through the sliding glass doors.


This modern living room looks out towards the park across the street. while the balcony with large sliding glass doors, fills both the living room and dining room with natural light,.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

In the dining room, light wood dining table and chairs play off the light wood walls, and a black built-in sideboard with wood handles provides ample storage and a place to display decorative items.


In this modern dining room, light wood dining table and chairs play off the light wood walls, and a matte black built-in sideboard with wood handles provides ample storage and a place to display decorative items.
 Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Another black barn door hides the pantry that sits between the dining room and the kitchen.


In this modern house, a matte black sliding barn door hides the pantry that sits between the dining room and the kitchen.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

In the kitchen, there’s another skylight above the white counters, and light wood cabinets keep the space bright. A light grey patterned floor tile adds some interest, while the exhaust fan above the oven is white so that it blends in with the wall.


In this modern kitchen, there's a skylight above the white counters, and light wood cabinets help to keep the space bright. A light grey patterned floor tile adds some interest, while the exhaust fan above the oven is white so that it blends in with the wall.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Just off the kitchen and at the end of the wood pod is more built-in cabinetry and open shelves, ideal for extra plates and dishes or as a coffee station.


In this light wood kitchen, there's a separate space with built-in cabinetry and open shelves, ideal for extra plates and dishes or as a coffee station.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Next to the kitchen is a rec room (also known as a rumpus room in Australia), that provides access to the backyard. Slim built-in desks line the wall of the pod, while the tile from the kitchen carries through into the open room.


In this modern rec room (also known as a rumpus room in Australia), slim built-in desks line the wall of a central pod, while a light grey decorative tile covers the floor.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Off the rec room is the fully-equipped laundry. Matte black cabinets provide a strong contrast to the light grey tiles and the white countertops. A drying bar has been installed to hang drying clothes, and a sink makes clean-up or soaking clothes easy.


In this modern laundry room, matte black cabinets provide a strong contrast to the light grey tiles and the white countertops. A drying bar has been installed to hang drying clothes, and a sink makes clean-up or soaking clothes easy.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Back towards the front of the house and to the right of the front door is the library or home office. A sliding white door lets the room be closed off when needed, while a built-in desk and plenty of shelves allows for working or quiet reading. A large sliding glass window can be opened and enjoyed from the built-in wood window bench.


In this modern library or home office, a sliding white door lets the room be closed off when needed, while a built-in desk and plenty of shelves allows for working or quiet reading. A large sliding glass window can be opened and enjoyed from the built-in wood window bench.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Next to the library is the media room. As the room in the original house already had split level, the designers worked with it and created a TV pit. The television is hidden behind an oversized sliding door, and to watch the tv the kids have to close the door, therefore creating a closed-off space to enjoy their show as their parents enjoy peace and quiet in the main living area of the house.


This modern house has a media room with a TV pit. The television is hidden behind an oversized matte black sliding door, and to watch the tv the kids have to close the door, therefore creating a closed-off space to enjoy their show as their parents enjoy peace and quiet in the main living area of the house.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Beside the media room are the stairs that lead to the upper floor of the home. The white and wood stairs are lined with custom-designed shelving to display personal items, while the skylight above gives off plenty of natural light.


These white and wood stairs are lined with custom-designed shelving to display personal items, while the skylight above gives off plenty of natural light.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

At the top of the stairs is a small area with access to the upper balcony. A small wooden bench acts as a step and a quiet place to relax and look out to the park.


At the top of the stairs in this modern home is a small area with access to a balcony. A small wooden bench acts as a step and a quiet place to relax and look out to the park.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

The upper level of the home is dedicated to the bedrooms. The master bedroom has a large walk-in closet hidden by another sliding barn door.


This modern master bedroom has a large walk-in closet hidden behind a matte black sliding barn door.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Through the master walk-in closet is the bathroom. A light wood vanity and plants add a natural touch to the grey and white bathroom.


In this modern bathroom, a light wood vanity and plants add a natural touch to the grey and white bathroom.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Another of the bedrooms has been set up as a kids bedroom with a small wood desk positioned in front of the window, perfect for daydreaming. Floor-to-ceiling white cabinets have the same round door handles featured throughout the main level of the house.


This kids bedroom has a small wood desk positioned in front of the window, perfect for daydreaming and floor-to-ceiling white cabinets have round wood door handles to match the wooden floor and desk.
Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Here’s a look at the floor plans of the renovated home.

This is the floor plan of a modern renovation of a 1970's double storey brown brick house in Australia that's home to a family of 5 that have outgrown the original home.
Interior styling throughout the house by Curious Grace