Cart 
After more than a decade in their Brisbane home, this family of five decided it was finally time to give their humble cottage a considered renovation — with the mature poinciana in the backyard becoming the starting point for the design.
This ambitious transformation by KIN Architects maintained the original character of the cottage while creating space for six bedrooms and ample living areas — a task that proved challenging given the cottage’s steep and narrow floor plan.
‘The cottage had a lovely relationship with the street and a lot of charm, so there was definitely something worth keeping. The main issue was that it just wasn’t big enough for the family of five,’ creative director of Kin Architects Leah Gallagher explains.
Creating a treehouse-inspired renovation for the homeowners was the best way to match their lifestyle and love of nature.
‘We wanted the house to feel connected to the tree and the outdoors, rather than just looking out at them,’ Leah says.
‘Instead of seeing the existing house and tree as things to work around, we saw them as the two things that could really shape the new design.’
In line with this renovation’s focus on family, the build accommodated space for future live-in grandparents by keeping the ground floor as a separate studio.
The biggest structural change was the addition of a new bedroom, living spaces and other flexible spaces. These brought different levels and layers to the home, providing a ‘treehouse’ effect while still keeping the family’s abode private from neighbours.
‘At the back, we opened the living areas right up to the poinciana with big sliding doors and the tensile mesh. That was really about making the most of the tree and creating that feeling of living amongst the canopy,’ Leah says.
She was most selective about the materials used, not wanting the house to appear too brand new, nor to compromise its cottage aesthetic.
Barestone, timber and translucent danpal make the space feel tactile and warm, with the danpal bringing additional natural light and the timber amplifying the home’s treehouse style.
Reviving the cottage in this way also suited the family’s practical budget. ‘We wanted to spend money where it really mattered and use durable, low-maintenance materials where we could,’ Leah explains.
Taking full advantage of the site’s northern light and its lush garden, this treehouse-like home feels like the perfect hideaway.
‘I’m really proud of how much the project achieves on such a tight site. It gives the family all the space they need without feeling like we’ve just tried to squeeze as much house as possible onto the block,’ says Leah.
Sign up to The Design Files free newsletter to get our best articles sent to your inbox.
