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It’s always helpful when the ‘before’ status of a renovation is already beautiful.
This was the case when interior design practice Folk Studio was asked to update a cute, but cramped, Marrickville home for a family of four. The owners had already lived there for many years before the renovation and had a ‘great eye’, according to Folk Studio director Mariah Burton.
‘We just needed to come in and expand the footprint of the home, as well as update the finishes to breathe new life into the space,’ Mariah says.
Knocking down the wall between their existing living and dining room created one, open-plan living area that radically transformed the feeling of the home, without losing the existing character of the old building.
‘The home has so many beautiful elements. [We retained] the high ceilings, ornate cornices, and brickwork — which we simply rendered over to maintain the texture and highlight the variations in the walls.’
A new European laundry is hidden behind a set of sage green cupboards, while a boucle-lined, moss-coloured modular sofa also helped maximise the house’s sense of space and functionality.
The biggest change came in the untapped potential of an old attic. What was once empty space in the roof was cleverly converted into a bright main bedroom with an ensuite bathroom that the owners had always dreamed of.
‘We designed the bathroom using handmade pink ceramic tiles which set the tone for the remaining spaces. We settled on using soft greens, natural whites, and lilac to create what feels like a spring garden of colours.’
The only way to access the roof space previously was through a poky manhole. But with the help of builders Tommico Renovations, they created an oak timber staircase that led to a brand-new upper level where skylights, timber floors, and terrazzo tiles await.
And the creation of this serene adult’s retreat also meant the two kids — who previously shared a room right next to their parents — could now have their own bedrooms downstairs. ‘It gives everyone in the household room to breathe,’ Mariah says.
