Toohey Forest House challenges the conventional approach to post-war homes in Brisbane, where demolition is often favoured over preservation. Instead, this project celebrates the existing house, retaining its presence at the front of the site with only minimal interior modifications. The original kitchen was repurposed to create a master suite, allowing all bedrooms to remain within the original structure - a deliberate move that respects the home’s history while making way for a contemporary addition at the rear.

The new pavilion, housing the kitchen, dining, and living areas, is set quietly at the back of the site, barely visible from the street. It connects lightly to the existing home through a glazed gallery, a delicate threshold that enhances the experience of moving between old and new. Between these two elements, a lush tropical courtyard emerges - an inviting shared landscape that brings greenery deep into the home, offering framed views from both the original house and the new pavilion. This verdant space also forms an informal, meandering pathway to the new pool, reinforcing a sense of fluid movement and connection to nature.

Breaking from suburban convention, the front yard has been transformed into a native garden with species endemic to the nearby Toohey Forest. Deliberately left unfenced, it invites the local community in. At its heart, an in-ground trampoline offers a joyful gathering space for neighbourhood children. Playfulness continues inside, where a hidden cubby is tucked into the bulkhead above the kitchen, creating an unexpected retreat for the youngest occupants.

Toohey Forest House is an exploration of balance - between preservation and reinvention, structure and landscape, public and private life. It is a home that quietly integrates itself into its surroundings, offering a contemporary way of living while embracing its past and fostering a sense of community.

Completed: 2024

Landscape Architect: Greencare Project
Structural Engineer: Inertia Engineering
Builder: M2 Build
Photography: Catherine Schusler

Bones Studio was approached by interstate Clients to design the transformation of their beachfront apartment located on the sands of Surfers Paradise.

The existing apartment consisted of an excess of luxurious materials, each beautiful individually, but clashing and lacking cohesion. Rather than evoking a feeling of calm and relaxation for the new owners, the space created a sense or disorder and unease. The first step of the redesign was to pare back the material palette to a more refined selection of natural finishes and create an elegant and neutral background to showcase a selection of curated art.

The existing kitchen layout lacked practicality, hindering the potential for entertaining and casual socialisation. Cooking activities were confined to a small butler's pantry, devoid of natural light and views of the beach. The redesign strategically relocated the working kitchen from the butler’s pantry to an open, socially engaging area. The introduction of a 'U'-shaped island now fosters a dynamic interaction between hosts and guests, reminiscent of the convivial atmosphere found in good restaurants or wine bars.

Completed: 2023

Furniture: Nexus Designs
Project Manager: Woodsters
Builder: Pagewood Projects
Stylist: Bindy Ward
Photography: Catherine Schusler

Media: Australian Design Review, The Local Project

This Queenslander home underwent a thoughtful transformation to address the missteps of a previous 2000s renovation. The earlier works raised the house and enclosed the ground floor with a garage and bedrooms, with the addition of two faux traditional gables resulting in an awkward facade with five gables, marring the home's original character. Inside, poor light penetration and a lack of connection with the backyard posed significant challenges.

The new owners, a young family, wanted to move the living spaces and kitchen to the ground floor for a better connection to the garden, introduce a pool, and reconfigure the upper floor to add a private master retreat.

Our design solution introduced a large void at the rear, dramatically improving natural light for both levels of the home. A suspended concrete planter bed adjacent to the void enhances the quality of the light, casting dynamic, dappled shadows throughout the day.

The front yard, previously retained at street level, blocked northern light from reaching the ground floor. This was addressed by excavating and terracing the site, opening up the ground-level entry and flooding the interior with natural light. Additionally, the removal of the faux gables allowed for the restoration of the front facade, returning it to its original Queenslander character.

Completed: 2023

Town Planner: Steffan Town Planning
Structural Engineer: Inertia Engineering
Builder: TF Build
Photography: Catherine Schusler

Perched high on a steep block overlooking the picturesque suburb of Paddington and its iconic water tower, a simple workers cottage undergoes thoughtful adjustments and extensions. This transformation aims to enhance the connection between its occupants, the panoramic scenery, and the site itself, seamlessly integrating these elements into the daily lives of a growing family.

New works include a rear extension separated from the original cottage by a transitional space containing a garden and staircase. This threshold between new and old acts as a lightwell and allows the cottage to remain intact in its original form.

The new extension, conceived as a viewing tower, contains a lounge room and deck. Here, a large picture window frames a view of a magnificent silky oak tree and the Jacarandas that dot Archibald's Hill beyond. Below, a new ground floor level contains utilities, children’s’ bedrooms, and areas for play.

Completed: 2022

Town Planner: DTS
Structural Engineer: Inertia Engineering
Interior Design: Jeffries Studio
Builder: P & R Lee Builders
Photography: Catherine Schusler

The brief of this fashion retailer was to create a unique space that represents the energy of youth and the anti-establishment nature of streetwear – a progressive place to inspire individuality, provide support, and push underground and emerging culture.

In response, we conceived the store as a venue that could be adapted for fashion shoots, events, and gigs while meeting the functional requirements of fashion merchandising.

The split-level layout of the tenancy inspired the core concept of a performance space, with the full-width staircase imagined as a stage complete with tiered wings and curtains (that double as change rooms), lending the retail space beyond a backstage feel. The stage, block-coloured in deep blue, creates a striking portal that draws the eye, inviting intrigued foot traffic into the store. Overhead, a linear array of LED strip lights transforms the space at night, infusing it with a nightclub atmosphere and enhancing its versatility for events and gigs.

The material palette is deliberately simple, with white tiles and black grout forming a geometric grid that ties the new merchandising elements together. This minimalist approach is a nod to the concept stores of New York City and Tokyo, providing a clean, organised backdrop to highlight product.

Completed: 2024

Builder: AKAM Constructions
Photography: Catherine Schusler

The RedSheds development consists of six individually strata-titled industrial units tailored to suit a variety of occupants, from collectors and hobbyists to small-scale commercial users like e-commerce retailers and builders.

Given the unique ownership model of the development, our focus was on nurturing a genuine sense of community and pride by thoughtfully reimagining the typical shed. Conventional industrial materials such as precast concrete, metal wall cladding, and poly-carbonate sheeting have all been used – but detailed and crafted in a bespoke way to elevate the quality of the product and improve the user experience.

From the project's outset, we engaged in close collaboration with the client group. In addition to providing architectural consultancy services, we played a role in developing the branding and identity of the RedSheds.

Completed: 2024

Town Planner: Reel Planning
Structural Engineer: Motus Consulting
Landscape Architect: AGLA
Builder: Cloustruct
Photography: Catherine Schusler

The owners of this beautiful Late-Victorian home wished to create a ‘Fonzie Flat’ on their property to provide self-contained accommodation for their grown children or visiting family.

The new building is nestled in a tight corner of the property’s front garden that shares frontages with both a prominent inner-city street and a narrow service lane. Its envelope is truncated to address the street and create a pronounced connection with a magnificent Camphor Laurel tree.

Accessed off the service lane, a new brick garage that seamlessly integrates with the existing brick fence provides a robust plinth for a striking metal-clad volume over. A curved brick wall evades the Camphor Laurel's root system and enhances the journey through the garden to the Fonzie’s entry.

The upper floor provides a flexible living area with full sized kitchen, a separate bedroom, and an ensuite. The perceived size of the small interior is increased by high pitched ceilings and a simple palette of just three materials; white paint, travertine tiles, and Victorian Ash cabinetry. A large picture window with deep baffles immerses the occupants in the tree canopy, whilst maintaining privacy from passing foot traffic below.

Completed: 2020

Builder: Monument Building Group
Styling: inCollective
Photography: Kat Lu

Media: The Local Project, Hunting for George, Lunchbox Architect, TinyHouseZine

The owners of this Queenslander home wanted to transform their tiring rental property into a modern family home to raise their young family. Typical of many original Queenslanders, the dwelling lacked a grounded connection to the outdoors - a place the family wished to spend more time. Views to the large north orientated backyard were only available via an uncovered, non-original deck that was unbearably hot and unusable in summer months.

Our proposal included raising and shifting the existing house to allow for an additional level on the ground floor. Utilising the block's natural fall from front to back was key to the initial master planning of the site. A split-level ground floor following the site's contours allowed the traditional proportion of the Queenslander’s street elevation to be maintained while achieving a dramatic double-height space at the rear of the home. This strategy also minimised the need for, and expense of, excessive earthworks and retaining.

The house has been zoned to separate quiet private spaces from noisy living areas. Bedrooms and utility areas are located at the front, while at the rear, large open plan living areas open out to the north orientated backyard and pool, achieving the owners' aspiration of a strong indoor-outdoor connection.

A clear distinction between old and new has been consciously made with regard to materiality and scale of spaces. The ornate Queenslander, respectfully restored to its original condition, is juxtaposed against the new extension's contemporary material selection and considerable expansion of space. At the transition from old to new, a perforated metal bridge bordering the side of a light and airy void delicately connects to the rear facade of the original dwelling.

Completed: 2020

Town Planner: Steffan Town Planning
Structural Engineer: Incode Engineers
Interior Design: Room by Room
Builder: Muller Constructions
Photography: Catherine Schusler

Media: The Local Project, Habitus Living,Queensland Homes Magazine

The first incarnation of Hello Please opened in 2016 in a car park beneath a South Brisbane rail overpass. In true Vietnamese street food spirit, the setup was temporary, with the food coming out of a shipping container to picnic tables scattered under yellow and white striped umbrellas and a giant mural of Muhammad Ali.

As the Fish Lane food precinct continued to develop, the opportunity arose for the restaurant to move into a more permanent location in 2019. This new tenancy, conveniently located across the lane, consisted of two distinct spaces; an outdoor space with a similar under-rail setting as the original pop-up, and a narrow internal space with a prominent frontage to Fish Lane.

As nimble as a Vietnamese hawker, the shipping container kitchen and picnic tables have been picked up and relocated to the outdoor space, building upon the grungy street market feel of the OG Hello Please. In contrast, the cocktail bar inside, offers a more relaxed setting and the perfect vantage point to soak up the vibrancy of Fish Lane. Here, the glow of lanterns throw soft pink light onto a minimal palette of white plaster, birch plywood, and polished concrete.

While Hello Please 2.0 offers a more elevated dining experience, the quirky signatures of the beloved pop-up remain. The yellow and white umbrellas have been immortalized in the ten-meter-long street awning, while a new mural of an opportunistic octopus is providing an Instagram worthy backdrop to rival even the greatest boxer of all time.

Completed: 2019

Builder: Woodsters
Mural: Fuzeillear
Photography: Dean Swindell

Media: Broadsheet, The Weekend Edition

The owners of this modest four room cottage wanted to transform their tiring rental property into a contemporary family home with better connections to the outdoors.

The original dwelling, known as ‘Stables Cottage’, was located on an atypical 405sqm block – one metre wider than standard due to a redundant access easement that previously served as a throughway for horses. This additional width informed the early decision to pursue a courtyard style home that would provide an increase of both natural light and garden deep into the floor plan.

The cottage has been respectfully restored, with the original four rooms used as sleeping quarters. By lifting the cottage in place, vehicles are securely accommodated underneath. A new two-storey rear extension holds living spaces and a master suite. The ‘L’ shaped configuration of the addition runs along the Western boundary creating an Eastern orientated courtyard with pool.

The courtyard is the heart of the project interacting with almost every room in the house. This connection is immediately apparent upon arrival, with direct sightlines of the courtyard visible from the gatehouse through the transparent glazed entry foyer. Once inside, large sliding doors completely open up, giving the kitchen, dining and sunken lounge an outdoor quality.

The eastern orientation of the courtyard allows sunlight to flood the living areas with morning light and, despite being situated on the southern side of the block, gives the master suite a northern aspect. A battened external screen and curved void enhance the natural light’s quality, creating dynamic dappled shadows throughout the day.

Completed: 2023

Town Planner: Mecone
Structural Engineer: Vector Structural Engineering
Builder: VDB Projects
Photography: Catherine Schusler

Media: Site. by CO-architecture

The owners of this 100 year old Queenslander cottage approached us to help design an extension to transform their tiny one-bedroom home into a 4-bedroom home suitable for a growing family.

While we were busy planning and designing the extension, we collaborated with the owners as they lovingly and painstakingly restored the original cottage with great respect to its heritage.

The extension was designed to impact as little as possible on the original building. A battened transition space with translucent roofing allows abundant natural light to filter through and brighten what would otherwise have been a dark interior. Its lower ceiling enhances the journey from old to new, opening out into a large living room with framed views through high-level windows to the sky.

Being an inner-city property and close to a freeway, it was a must to consider acoustics and privacy in the design and layout of bedrooms and living areas. The deck was positioned to face North and East, borrowing the mature Lilly Pilly tree on the neighbouring property for shelter and outlook.

Completed: 2018

Builder: T & J Bowden Constructions
Styling: Jeffries Studio
Photography: Cathy Schusler

Media:Lunchbox Architect

As the first chapter of their planned renovation project, the owners of this 1960s modernist house wished for the design of their new kitchen to be at once discernibly contemporary and sympathetic to the architectural style of their home. 

The mid-century context informed both the material palette of muted greens with subtle textures, as well as the decision to preserve the kitchen as its own self-contained room. The addition of new east-facing windows and the creation of a more open threshold to the dining room have resulted in a light-filled space that has become a favourite for Prince the mini-sausage to bask in morning sunlight.     

Completed: 2018

Builder: Denny Constructions
Styling: Jeffries Studio
Photography: Catherine Schusler

The owners of this Queenslander home wanted to reconnect with their once prized swimming pool that had fallen into disrepair. Bones Studio conceived a new pavilion shelter where it was possible to sit and relax and admire the surrounding pool, garden, and bushland beyond.

Completed: 2012

Structural Engineer: Sheehy and Partners
Builder: Code Projects
Photography: Manson Images

The first foray into hospitality of clothing store Apartment/Double Double owners and creators of A Love Supreme, Nick and Ben Chiu, Ben’s Burgers was the realisation of a long-standing vision: to create a clean, pared-back, but intimate space where the branding is integral to the design, and a strong sense of community and place within the laneway is achieved.

Completed: 2014

Collaborators: Two Chiu Crew, Standing By Company, Georgia Cannon Interior Design
Photography: Daniel Maddock

Media: The Weekend Edition, Broadsheet

It was important with this project that the branding and space were not a replica of Ben’s Burgers in Fortitude Valley, but rather an evolution into a new, but inherently linked identity.

The outdoor dining area was inspired by nostalgic images of weekend sporting events; ordering food from a demountable tuck shop and watching the game from the bleachers with all your mates. Subtle details in tile setouts and greenery reference the previous space.

Completed: 2015

Collaborators: Two Chiu Crew, Standing By Company
Photography: Standing By Company, Josh Maguire, Cieran Murphy

Media: The Weekend Edition, Broadsheet

New-school fish and chip restaurant with old school beachside vibes.

Completed: 2018

Collaborators: Standing By Company
Photography: Chrisanthi Demos of Weekend Edition

Media: The Weekend Edition, Broadsheet

‘Herbie’ is a new family home designed for an irregular shaped site in Paddington, Brisbane. The site, burdened by an overland flow path, contains a 90’s low set house that lacks a desired connection to the outdoors. A challenge of creating these close indoor/outdoor relationships within flood prone sites is the requirement for new habitable spaces to be raised off the ground plane, away from the garden, to meet Council’s prescribed flood immunity levels.

Through early collaboration with our flood engineer, we devised a master plan that saw a portion of the existing house demolished to dedicate the eastern half of the site to landscaping and robust, outdoor living areas. This strategy of increasing the unobstructed flow path through the site decreased the inundation risk allowing a new pavilion on the western half of the site to be designed at a level closer and more connected to the garden than Council’s standard allows.

Status: DA Approved

Interior Design: Jeffries Studio
Flood Engineer: Storm Water Consulting
Town Planner: Steffan Town Planning

A family home on a working cattle station in South-East Queensland. Perched high on a hill, the house captures magnificent views over the 255 ha property and the cattle that graze the land. 

Completed: 2020

Builder: Denny Constructions

The owners of this Queenslander home wanted to create a fun and inspiring environment to raise their growing family.  Two key desires for the project were to create greater connections with the outdoors at ground level, while still taking advantage of magnificent views available from the upper floor. 

The proposed internal layout of the old home has been reconfigured to locate living areas at the rear of the plan to take advantage of the Northern aspect.  Here, a new void connects the existing, traditional, upper level with the contemporary lower level.  Adjacent the void, a library space containing bespoke sliding doors is able to open completely evoking a verandah spirit and connecting with the canopy of an established mango tree.  Below, the living areas can directly engage with the mango tree, garden, and lawn. An outdoor pavilion and pool are arranged around the perimeter of the yard creating a semi-private lawn for children's play, and ensuring that view corridors from the house are not impeded.

Completed: 2022

Structural Engineer: Optimum Structures
Builder: Allan White Constructions

Located in a basement on Elizabeth Street in Brisbane's CBD, inspired by the culture of fashion and sneakers experienced in Hong Kong, Berlin and New York, the space was realised as a series of apartment moments plucked from a vision of the dream bachelor pad.

The space was unfortunately lost in the 2011 flood.

Completed: 2007

Collaborators: Apartment, Standing By Company

A playful office fitout for a New York based financial consultancy firm.  Vibrant pops of teal were used as a signifier of communal spaces for informal work and socialising.  The fitout includes an open plan work area, small cosy team rooms, a tech-heavy boardroom, private phone booths, and a striking block-colour kitchen.

Completed: 2017

Photography: Guy Wilkinson Photography