Front garden and entry steps of a renovated Queenslander home.
Front garden and entry steps of a renovated Queenslander home.
Open-plan dining and kitchen with timber furniture, double-height void, and garden connection at the Daphne residence.
Open-plan dining and kitchen with timber furniture, double-height void, and garden connection at the Daphne residence.
Entry view through sliding timber screens to stepped garden and front yard at the Daphne residence.
Entry view through sliding timber screens to stepped garden and front yard at the Daphne residence.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

Credits:

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

Media: The Design Files

Open-plan dining space with double-height glazing, timber furniture, and seamless views to garden and pool.
Open-plan dining space with double-height glazing, timber furniture, and seamless views to garden and pool.
Double-height kitchen with timber joinery, skylight, and sculptural stair balustrade above.
Double-height kitchen with timber joinery, skylight, and sculptural stair balustrade above.
Concrete pavilion opening to garden and courtyard, with lush planting cascading over the roof edge.
Concrete pavilion opening to garden and courtyard, with lush planting cascading over the roof edge.
Minimal kitchen with timber island, white stools, and soft neutral cabinetry beneath a linear pendant light.
Minimal kitchen with timber island, white stools, and soft neutral cabinetry beneath a linear pendant light.
Covered outdoor dining area framed by concrete beams, lush planting, and sliding glass doors opening to the garden.
Covered outdoor dining area framed by concrete beams, lush planting, and sliding glass doors opening to the garden.
Skylight detail above timber joinery and fluted glass, bringing soft natural light into the interior.
Skylight detail above timber joinery and fluted glass, bringing soft natural light into the interior.
Rear elevation of the Queenslander with concrete pavilion, pool terrace, and garden connection.
Rear elevation of the Queenslander with concrete pavilion, pool terrace, and garden connection.
Refined interior detail with sliding panel door, vertical timber screen, and restored Queenslander wall lining.
Refined interior detail with sliding panel door, vertical timber screen, and restored Queenslander wall lining.
Timber screen balustrade and skylight bringing soft daylight into the upper-level void.
Timber screen balustrade and skylight bringing soft daylight into the upper-level void.
Bedroom opening to a balcony through glazed doors, framed by soft curtains and garden views beyond.
Bedroom opening to a balcony through glazed doors, framed by soft curtains and garden views beyond.
Light-filled bedroom with soft white curtains, timber details, and French doors opening to leafy balcony views.
Light-filled bedroom with soft white curtains, timber details, and French doors opening to leafy balcony views.
Bathroom vanity with timber joinery, stone benchtop, round basin, and a textured-glass window bringing in soft daylight.
Bathroom vanity with timber joinery, stone benchtop, round basin, and a textured-glass window bringing in soft daylight.
Bedroom detail with French doors opening to greenery, built-in timber joinery, and soft natural light filtering through sheer curtains.
Bedroom detail with French doors opening to greenery, built-in timber joinery, and soft natural light filtering through sheer curtains.
Light-filled bedroom with built-in wardrobes, soft drapery, and decorative ceiling detail opening through to a sunlit adjoining space.
Light-filled bedroom with built-in wardrobes, soft drapery, and decorative ceiling detail opening through to a sunlit adjoining space.
Bathroom vanity with twin basins, timber cabinetry, and textured glazing filtering soft natural light.
Bathroom vanity with twin basins, timber cabinetry, and textured glazing filtering soft natural light.
Built-in bedroom wardrobes with sliding doors, muted green interior, and integrated hanging and drawer storage.
Built-in bedroom wardrobes with sliding doors, muted green interior, and integrated hanging and drawer storage.
Light-filled bathroom with freestanding tub, terrazzo floor, timber vanity, and frosted window for privacy.
Light-filled bathroom with freestanding tub, terrazzo floor, timber vanity, and frosted window for privacy.
Compact bathroom basin with wall-mounted cylindrical vanity, oval mirror, and frosted window filtering soft daylight.
Compact bathroom basin with wall-mounted cylindrical vanity, oval mirror, and frosted window filtering soft daylight.

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.

Credits:

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

Media: The Design Files

(Other works)

Double Double Store

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Queen Street Mall, Brisbane, Australia

Double Double Store

Retail

Queen Street Mall, Brisbane, Australia

Apartment Store

Retail

Brisbane, Australia

Apartment Store

Retail

Brisbane, Australia