In The Details

A sympathetic renovation brought this Sydney home into the 21st century without losing its Federation charms.

- Judy Pascoe

Having never renovated before, the owners of this Federation bungalow in Sydney’s eastern suburbs were determined to do it properly. They lived in the house for two years before engaging Luigi Rosselli Architects, who came highly recommended by a work colleague. Space for the family of four was tight in the single-storey house, so Luigi and his team proposed a first-floor extension to accommodate the bedrooms, freeing up the entire downstairs area for generous living spaces.

A year-long build ensued, during which time Alexandra Donohoe Church, principal of Decus Interiors, came on board to take care of the interior design. “The house had a lovely traditional feel and we wanted to retain that in the front of the home, transitioning to a more contemporary mood at the back,” she says.

Echoes of the home’s past can be seen throughout, from the tiles in the entry that are reminiscent of old tiled verandahs, to the reinstated moulding on the joinery. The formal front sitting room remains, its fireplace updated with a stone hearth and mantel. “The original wedding-cake detailing on the ceiling was too beautiful to do away with,” says Alexandra. So it stayed, along with the vintage pendant lights. An antique-style mirror above the fireplace and heirloom floor lamps blend seamlessly with shapely armchairs and low-slung marble and walnut coffee tables.