Cart 
Perhaps the hardest part about designing a family home is ensuring it accommodates the client’s present-day needs, as well as forecasting what they might need in the future.
This was especially pertinent in Studio Soleil’s recent renovation of a classic worker’s cottage in Rozelle; home to a professional couple with a two-year-old son.
‘The clients envisioned a home their young family could grow into, one that supports daily routines but also moments of connection and entertaining,’ Studio Soleil director Pia Watson says.
The existing home was typical of many workers’ cottages in the area, comprising a fragmented layout with small and cramped spaces that lacked natural light.
‘Our intention was to craft a home that feels expressive yet grounded, unique without being overly polished or precious,’ Pia adds.
Inspired by the humble roots of the period house, Studio Soleil embraced restraint and tactility to create the new interiors, rather than dramatic flourishes.
Dalgliesh Ward & Associates Architects and Rosato Projects worked on reimagining the building fabric, positioning the extension and first-floor addition to the rear of the site — maintaining the original scale and appeal of the cottage facade from the street.
A blue entry door offers a subtle moment of play on arrival, setting the tone for the contemporary spaces and a series of blue-toned accents throughout the interiors. Timber floorboards anchor the ground plane, while curved joinery edges soften transitions between spaces.
But the kitchen and its selection of ‘statement stones’ were always intended to serve as the hero feature of the entire home.
Breccia Di Medic marble from CDK Stone adds an expressive touch across the splashback and benchtop, paired with a sculptural timber island and textural floor tiles laid in a checkered pattern.
‘Light is drawn deep into the plan through numerous skylights, while curved forms and gentle transitions create a sense of flow,’ Pia adds.
The floorplan deliberately and intentionally separates the communal spaces from the bedrooms and study via a utility corridor and bathroom, allowing multiple activities to occur seamlessly without interference.’
The final design delivers a home that feels both expansive and intimate; playful yet refined.
By working with the existing structure, rather than overpowering it, the redesign feels like a fitting backdrop for the next chapter in the owners’ lives. And it’s a perfect canvas for the years to come too.
