coming renovation

Floor Plan of Poet’s Corner by Oliver Leech Architects

The existing stairs were painted in a dark yet neutral blue-gray, with a runner on top that has a coordinating pop of orange. While most of the home's historic details were removed by former owners, Leech's team tried to preserve what they could.

The owner, a school teacher, reads with her child on the banquette, which is bathed in rare London sun.

The wildflowers on the roof can be seen through the skylights throughout the day. A duo of sliders allows for a clear connection to the garden.

Skylights allow for sun to reach the inside of the home, while providing views of the sky and wildflower roof.

This eco-friendly extension in Melbourne was designed by Ben Callery Architects. The light-filled space incorporates renewable features including high levels of insulation, double glazing, and recycled and locally sourced materials. A corrugated metal roof was designed to glide over the 1,650-square-foot home.

Cecilia Yuan, principal at Blank Canvas Architects, and her husband bought this Victorian-style abode in Port Melbourne, Australia, for its heritage charm. So, during a renovation that re-configured wasted space, like moving the bathroom to create a larger dining area that mingles a Muuto Split table with Phoenix chairs and a marble-wrapped island, she also saw an opportunity to replace such features as deteriorating iron lacework.

The steel-framed doors fully open to the courtyard, maximizing indoor/outdoor living space on the small lot.

The main volume of the extension is constructed from offset Douglas fir battens painted blue and gray. This reflects the vertical lines and gray color of the ribbed render used in the extension to the side of the house.

Sliding glass doors offer expansive views of the rear garden—and they can be opened in the spring and summer months to extend the living space outside.

A full exterior remodel of the older house allowed Cornuelle and Tall Firs to match its siding and trim to the new ADU. They designed a front door with a circular cut-out, bringing a modern touch to the traditional entry.

San Francisco–based landscape design studio TALC helped reimagine the lot and the green spaces around the two buildings, with distinct exterior rooms: a meadow, a dining area, a fire pit area, and a patio.

Cornuelle, who’s from Hawaii, chose both older and contemporary Hawaiian art for the walls.