Australian House & Garden – September 2019

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AUSTRALIAN HOUSE& GARDEN| 99

theeasternboundary.Alongthenarrowandformerly

under-utilisededge,shemanagedtoinsertexternal

storageforbinsandmeters;a bathinthenewfamily

bathroom;a built-indeskinthethirdbedroom;a New

York-stylecocktailbar;a generousserverywallin the

diningroom;anda barbecueonthereardeck.

Riccialsooverhauledthefloorplantocreatedistinct

zones,installingskylightsandextra-highceilingsinkey

areas,todrawinnaturallightandcreatetheillusionof

morespace.Bedroomsandbathroomsremaininthe

originalcottage;servicezonesoccupythecentralsection,

andtherearsectionisgiven over to living, cooking and

entertainingspaces.

Severalroomsdodoubleduty,suchasthelaundry

whichdoublesasa scullery,extendingthekitchen’s

functionalitywithoutaddinga dedicatedbutler’spantry.

“Thefamilywanteda spacewhichcouldbeusedas

anotherbedroomoccasionally,sotheTVroom at the

frontdoublesasa guestroom,”saysRicci.

Toreduceoverallcosts,theykeptthekitcheninthe

samelocation.Riccidid,however,rotatethelayout 90

degreestoimproveseparationbetweenthekitchenand

theadjacentlivingzone.Shealsoinstalledglassdoors

thatopentoa smallsidedeck, connecting the kitchen

tothegreenspacebeyond.

Theopen-planliving/diningroomistheonlyentirely

newpartofthehouse,andfeaturesa welcomingfocal

pointintheformofa gas-fuelledfireplace.Slidingdoors

opentoa generousandinvitingoutdoorroomwith

relaxedseatinganda built-in barbecue – perfect for

alfrescogatherings.

Widestairsconnecttothelushgardenandrevamped

swimmingpool,whichthefamilyusesmorefrequently

post-renovation.Theoutdoorfurnitureismodularand

canbeeasilymovedaround, including down to the pool

areawhenrequired.

ForRicci,workingwiththisfamilywasanopportunity

todemonstratethevalueofcarefulandwell-considered

designinterventions.“I’mnotanarchitectwholikesto

demolisheverythingandstartagain;I’drathereachpart

ofthehomefeltlikeit hadalways been there,” she says.

“Ithinkwe’veachievedthat.” >

RicciBlochArchitecture+Interiors,DoubleBay, NSW;

0411 203 896 or http://www.riccibloch.com.au.

KITCHEN/DINING/LIVING“Wedeliberatelyarrangedthekitchen

withitsbacktothelivingroomsoyoudon’tseethestoveuntilyou

walkintothekitchen,”saysRicci.Existingdiningtable.Molloy

diningchairs,Cult.MarsetSohopendantlights,EstLighting.

Built-insideboardcladinPolytecWoodmattFlorentineWalnut.

Customsofas,Noble&JonesFurnitureDesigners.Coffeetable,

Domo.Rug,PerrymanCarpets.KitchenbenchtopsinSavoy

marble,WorldstoneSolutions.Stove,Ilve.Artworkabovesofais

a familypiece.Designerbuy:CasaHandmadeZelligetiles

(splashback), $336/m², Onsite Supply+Design.

“Weonlyextendedthefootprintslightlybutthe

house feelsa lotmorespaciousbecausethereare

glimpsesofgreeneryfromeveryroom.”

Ricci Bloch, architect/interior designer