Elià House

The brief

Transform a rare freestanding 1890s Italianate style terrace house in Sydney’s Inner West into a three level home combining the delight of a warm, contemporary aesthetic with the flexibility and robustness required for the changing needs of family life. A respect for the heritage of the original features is paramount as is creating a connection between the interior living spaces and the outside terrace and garden.

The result

Holistic blends of old and new combine the best of both worlds; an elevated apartment-like feel and connection to the grounding inspiration of a verdant, lush garden. The new deck area linking the open plan kitchen and dining space at the rear of the home to the delight of nature via expansive glass sliding doors has created the feeling of an outdoor room — warm, inviting and a fresh focal point for family gatherings.

Heritage details mirrored in contemporary additions such as the curve of the Victorian bullnose Carrera marble thresholds echoed in the 21^st century kitchen benchtops pay hommage to the past while creating an all-embracing aesthetic flow. Layers of subtle textures, the timelessness of timber and a pared-back, warm tonal colour palette emphasise a lived-in materiality.

Unique to the house is an additional rear walled garden, which is almost a whole level lower than the street-level front of the home. This microcosm of magic provides yet another opportunity to open the interiors to the uplifting romance of the outdoors via the creation of a new secondary glass-fronted living area.

The feeling

A warm and welcoming haven of neutral tones, natural materials and light-filled living spaces.