In Ivanhoe East, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, a sociable couple lamented that they didn’t have enough space to host their extended family and friends for home-cooked meals. To expand their two-story abode, they turned to Melbourne–based architecture and design firm Pleysier Perkins.

“Our design transformed the house into an ‘entertainer,’ with a generous kitchen/meals/living area, an outdoor kitchen under an operable roof, and a new lap pool,” says studio director and project architect Berit Barton.

At the heart of the commodious, open-plan addition is the kitchen, where cooking takes place underneath an L-shaped skylight that brings in the sunshine and illuminates the island and surrounding finishes.

Organically connecting to the terrace and garden, the versatile area was conjured by an 258-square-foot extension of the lower level. By maximizing the property’s sloping site, Pleysier Perkins didn't compromise any of the upper floor’s rooms.

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Demarcating this expanded entertaining zone is a custom steel facade, its contemporary black ribbing a textural juxtaposition to the house’s original brick exterior. This curved screen softens into a fence that hugs the new terrace and garden and shields them from the driveway, says Barton.

“Curved elements repeat throughout the design as a nod to the old house’s craftsmanship,” she adds, pointing to the fluted timber walls and screens that add warmth. “The original joinery had a few curves happening. We wanted to re-introduce some of these architectural features to keep within the character of the house.”

A curvy, Art Deco-inspired chimney stack and fireplace as well as ornamental wrought-iron railings were salvaged, and although the bungalow “showed good bones, we were not able to preserve all of it, as it was just not practical,” explains Barton.

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Along with the expansion, the home also received a green upgrade. It now has insulation, double-glazed windows, and rooftop solar panels. Crowning the upper level is a garden and deck accessed via the new lounge or master bedroom suite.

Says Barton of the roof: “This parent’s retreat was not a must, but a welcome bonus. It invites sitting down with a glass of wine and watching the sunset over the leafy hills.”

Related Reading:

Soak In the Greatness of This Gorgeous Melbourne Addition

Vaulted Skylights and Concrete Columns Connect This Melbourne Home With the Sun

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Pleysier Perkins (Berit Barton, Nicholas Arthur) / @pleysierperkins

Builder/General Contractor: TCON

Structural Engineer: Vayco

Landscape Design: Andy Murray

Lighting Design: Lights & Tracks

Interior Design: Pleysir Perkins (Georgie Marks)

Cabinetry Design: COS Interiors

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A Post-War Bungalow in Australia Gains an Indoor/Outdoor Entertainment Hub