All Stories

Architectural Apartment Mid Century Minimalist Family Country Tiny Coastal Victorian Renovated

Small Garden Suburban Garden Country Garden Public Garden Vegetable Garden Coastal Garden

Aboriginal Art Exhibition

Illustration Lighting Interior Design Graphic Design Styling Textiles Furniture Jewellery Photography Craft Floristry Architecture Industrial Design Woodwork Quoted Art Aboriginal Art Ceramics

Lunch Dinner Snacks Salad Vegetarian Breakfast Sweets Gluten Free Drinks Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Fashion Kids Art Ceramics Furniture Gifts Lighting Plants + Flowers Rugs Soft Furnishings In Print Sustainable Design Homewares

Guides Stays

Homes

Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.

Architecture

Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.

Interiors

Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.

Gardens

In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.

Creative People

Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.

Art

Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.

Food

Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.

Travel

Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.

On The Market

Climate

News

All Stories

Architectural Apartment Mid Century Minimalist Family Country Tiny Coastal Victorian Renovated

Small Garden Suburban Garden Country Garden Public Garden Vegetable Garden Coastal Garden

Aboriginal Art Exhibition

Illustration Lighting Interior Design Graphic Design Styling Textiles Furniture Jewellery Photography Craft Floristry Architecture Industrial Design Woodwork Quoted Art Aboriginal Art Ceramics

Lunch Dinner Snacks Salad Vegetarian Breakfast Sweets Gluten Free Drinks Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Fashion Kids Art Ceramics Furniture Gifts Lighting Plants + Flowers Rugs Soft Furnishings In Print Sustainable Design Homewares

Guides Stays

Homes

Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.

Architecture

Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.

Interiors

Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.

Gardens

In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.

Creative People

Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.

Art

Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.

Food

Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.

Travel

Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.

On The Market

Climate

News

Bringing Light and Space Into A Fitzroy Terrace House

Architecture

Victorian and Edwardian era terrace homes line many streets in Sydney and Melbourne, and are notoriously dark and narrow. We have featured many clever renovated terraces on TDF (ding, ding, ding), but none with a concrete ceiling quite like this!

Taylor Knights Architecture and Interior Design share their renovations of Fitzroy terrace, where a sunken living room, shifting ceiling volumes and renewed outdoor living spaces transform the home.

15th August, 2019

A bright renovation for the Fitzroy Terrace house by Taylor Knights Architecture and Interior Design. Photo – Peter Clarke.

A dark terrace with limited ventilation undergoes a major renovation. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Embracing the outdoors with terrace living. Photo – Peter Clarke.

The sunken living room, bathed in light. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Let there be light! Photo – Peter Clarke.

By introducing shifting volumes, the space feels larger. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Plenty of room for entertaining. Photo – Peter Clarke.

The concrete ceiling gently hugs the living room. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Kitchen detail. Photo – Peter Clarke.

A home of shifting volumes and light! Photo – Peter Clarke.

The surface finishes were selected to either reflect or absorb light. Photo – Peter Clarke.

A cosy corner. Photo – Peter Clarke.

A grown up living space! Photo – Peter Clarke.

Bedroom details. Photo – Peter Clarke.

A serene bathroom. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Bathroom details. Photo – Peter Clarke.

Miriam McGarry

Thursday 15th August 2019

‘The architecture should still retain the grittiness and honesty of its past.’ – Taylor Knights.

The Fitzroy Terrace by Taylor Knights Architecture and Interior Design transforms a ‘dark, damp and poorly ventilated’ home into a naturally lit and expansive feeling home. The brief from the clients was to create a series of flexible connected spaces ‘that would host not only their private lives but also their love for entertaining.’ They also specified that while they wanted a refined and resolved new design, the architecture should still retain the ‘grittiness and honesty of its past.’

The architects have created a flexible space to reflect the owner’s lifestyle, with two bedrooms, two living areas, a study, one bathroom, a kitchen for entertaining and abundant outdoor spaces. The initial focus was to welcome light into the narrow site ‘through a series of light-catching volumes and openings.’ This was achieved through the sunken living room, sweeping ceiling and high windows, and the addition of more outdoor living space to ‘diffuse lightness and distill darkness.’

Taylor Knights describe the material palette as one of ‘delicate opposition’, where finishes either absorb or reflect the newly introduced light in the home. The robust materials of concrete and brick also extend the longevity of the home, which has already stood the test of time. The wave form of the concrete ceiling introduces a contemporary form to the historic home, and the long-lasting materials helps tie together the old and new.

This Week

News

Shop Zenn Design + Christopher Blank’s New, Must-Have Bedside Tables

It’s time to elevate your bedroom with this sleek new collection of solid timber tables.

Sponsored

Apartments

Inside A 100-Year-Old Apartment Building, In The Heart Of Melbourne’s CBD

We tour two unique apartments inside Temple Court, an elegant 1920s building nestled on Melbourne's iconic Collins Street!

Christina Karras

News

The Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia Has A New All-Female Display

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is giving focus to eight unique female artists in its impressive collection!

Sponsored

Giveaway

Introducing Designer Rugs x Castle’s Colourful New Collection + Your Chance To WIN!

Brighten up your space with your pick from Designer Rugs x CASTLE's fun-filled collection - enter the giveaway here!

Christina Karras

5 hours ago

Creative People

The ‘Alien-esque’ Cartoon-Inspired Ceramics Of Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth Lewis makes surrealist-inspired ceramics… in a colour palette reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons!

Amelia Barnes

On The Market

This Designer’s Family Home Hides A Rooftop Terrace, And It’s For Sale

The Melbourne house of owner-designer Dan Gayfer is on the market, but this Edwardian's sweeping extension is full of surprises.

Christina Karras

Studio Visit

The Sculptural Fabric + Metal Works Of Architect-Trained Artist, Annie Paxton

Melbourne based Annie Paxton creates mesmerising sculptural works made from silk, fabric, aluminium, steel and chain mail!

Amelia Barnes

Homes

Artist Gemma Leslie’s 1880s Mediterranean-Inspired Family Home

The historic home of artist Gemma Leslie and Mike Chambers is a little slice of Tuscany... in Melbourne!

Lucy Feagins

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life With A Rising Star In The Australian Ballet, Riley Lapham

We went behind the scenes with professional ballerina Riley Lapham as the company brings their 'Don Quixote' to the stage!

Christina Karras

Architecture

A Playful Renovation + Extension Of A 1910s Edwardian Weatherboard Cottage

This once lacklustre Edwardian cottage has been given new life thanks to a renovation and extension by Architect George Meek, of Studio Meek...

Bea Taylor

On The Market

A Luxuriously Modern Home For Sale In Sydney's Forest Lodge

This new home has everything from smart-home features to solar and an electric car charger, alongside a dreamy outdoor entertaining area!

Christina Karras

Climate

Everything You Need To Know About Creating An All-Electric Home

Switching from gas to all-electric appliances makes for a more sustainable, safe, healthy, and affordable home. Here's how to get it done!

Amelia Barnes

21 hours ago

Interiors

A Sunny Bondi Terrace Renovation With A Candy-Pink Bathroom!

The interiors of this family home now feature an all-pink bathroom and olive green features, inspired by the owners' personal style!

Christina Karras

Interiors

A ‘Little Big House’ Designed For The Whole Family

A Melbourne family home by Maike Design where the priorities of parents and children take equal billing.

Amelia Barnes

News

An Inspiring Photography Exhibition By Catherine Opie Is Coming To Heide

Heide Museum of Modern Art is hosting the first major Australian showcase of renown American photographer Catherine Opie.

Sponsored

Similar Stories

Architecture

Heritage Bones Meets Modern Minimalism In This Inner City Terrace

A small footprint heritage renovation by Rob Kennon in Fitzroy North.

Miriam McGarry

Architecture

A Thoroughly Tactile Terrace

Bringing new light and life to a narrow North Fitzroy home, with Olaver Architecture.

Miriam McGarry

Architecture

A Transformed Victorian Terrace

Designing a renovation from the inside out, by Melbourne based architects studiofour.

Sally Tabart

This Week

News

Shop Zenn Design + Christopher Blank’s New, Must-Have Bedside Tables

It’s time to elevate your bedroom with this sleek new collection of solid timber tables.

Sponsored

Creative People

The ‘Alien-esque’ Cartoon-Inspired Ceramics Of Elizabeth Lewis

Elizabeth Lewis makes surrealist-inspired ceramics… in a colour palette reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons!

Amelia Barnes

Homes

Artist Gemma Leslie’s 1880s Mediterranean-Inspired Family Home

The historic home of artist Gemma Leslie and Mike Chambers is a little slice of Tuscany... in Melbourne!

Lucy Feagins

Apartments

Inside A 100-Year-Old Apartment Building, In The Heart Of Melbourne’s CBD

We tour two unique apartments inside Temple Court, an elegant 1920s building nestled on Melbourne's iconic Collins Street!

Christina Karras

Architecture

A Playful Renovation + Extension Of A 1910s Edwardian Weatherboard Cottage

This once lacklustre Edwardian cottage has been given new life thanks to a renovation and extension by Architect George Meek, of Studio Meek...

Bea Taylor

Interiors

A ‘Little Big House’ Designed For The Whole Family

A Melbourne family home by Maike Design where the priorities of parents and children take equal billing.

Amelia Barnes

Studio Visit

The Sculptural Fabric + Metal Works Of Architect-Trained Artist, Annie Paxton

Melbourne based Annie Paxton creates mesmerising sculptural works made from silk, fabric, aluminium, steel and chain mail!

Amelia Barnes

Giveaway

Introducing Designer Rugs x Castle’s Colourful New Collection + Your Chance To WIN!

Brighten up your space with your pick from Designer Rugs x CASTLE's fun-filled collection - enter the giveaway here!

Christina Karras

5 hours ago

On The Market

This Designer’s Family Home Hides A Rooftop Terrace, And It’s For Sale

The Melbourne house of owner-designer Dan Gayfer is on the market, but this Edwardian's sweeping extension is full of surprises.

Christina Karras

On The Market

A Luxuriously Modern Home For Sale In Sydney's Forest Lodge

This new home has everything from smart-home features to solar and an electric car charger, alongside a dreamy outdoor entertaining area!

Christina Karras

News

An Inspiring Photography Exhibition By Catherine Opie Is Coming To Heide

Heide Museum of Modern Art is hosting the first major Australian showcase of renown American photographer Catherine Opie.

Sponsored

News

The Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia Has A New All-Female Display

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia is giving focus to eight unique female artists in its impressive collection!

Sponsored

Interiors

A Sunny Bondi Terrace Renovation With A Candy-Pink Bathroom!

The interiors of this family home now feature an all-pink bathroom and olive green features, inspired by the owners' personal style!

Christina Karras

Climate

Everything You Need To Know About Creating An All-Electric Home

Switching from gas to all-electric appliances makes for a more sustainable, safe, healthy, and affordable home. Here's how to get it done!

Amelia Barnes

21 hours ago

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life With A Rising Star In The Australian Ballet, Riley Lapham

We went behind the scenes with professional ballerina Riley Lapham as the company brings their 'Don Quixote' to the stage!

Christina Karras

Similar Stories

Architecture

Heritage Bones Meets Modern Minimalism In This Inner City Terrace

A small footprint heritage renovation by Rob Kennon in Fitzroy North.

Miriam McGarry

Architecture

A Thoroughly Tactile Terrace

Bringing new light and life to a narrow North Fitzroy home, with Olaver Architecture.

Miriam McGarry

Architecture

A Transformed Victorian Terrace

Designing a renovation from the inside out, by Melbourne based architects studiofour.

Sally Tabart

The Design Files acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

First Nations artists, designers, makers, and creative business owners are encouraged to submit their projects for coverage on The Design Files. Please email bea@thedesignfiles.net

The Design Files’ original content and photos are copyright protected. Please email us before reposting our content on other publications, personal websites, or Instagram. Feel free to share our images on Pinterest using the credit ‘via thedesignfiles.net’. Thank you!