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The authenticity of the home is thanks to a renovation that stayed true to Straub's vision. The open-plan living space features a fireplace and access to the backyard to effortlessly enjoy indoor-outdoor living.

A three-seater Ella sofa and footrest in Vega Anthracit by Sofacompany anchor the living room. The steel coffee table is by Lim and the rug is from Coral & Hive. The shelving and cabinets are custom from Holz Cabinetry. The lamp is from Vamp and the lampshade is from Skinny laMinx. The chairs are from Chair Crazy and the television is from Samsung.

The couple flipped the typical townhouse layout by putting the bedrooms on the ground floor and the living areas upstairs. “The lower floors of machiyas tend to be cave-like,” says Chris, “so we decided to sleep in the cave and live upstairs in the bright open area.”

Art of the bath: The new bathroom features a pattern of staggered tiles, inspired by an art installation that wrapped around a corner. “Corners are overlooked—you can use them to emphasize the space,” says Rudabeh.

Not every client-designer relationship would have thrived under such extreme circumstances, but Dovey credits Sarah and Ben’s attitude for the project’s success. “They were observant and thoughtful, and really took the time to ask all the right questions,” says Dovey. “In the end, it went so well just because of the great relationships.”

A preserved brick support column is juxtaposed against a streamlined kitchen, with Corian counters and a marble slab backsplash.

Clutter is kept to a minimum, thanks to a concealed pantry behind the stove wall, accessed through the door to the left. “It’s like a secret room,” says Bassett.

The primary suite was fit into the previous garage, with the bathroom tucked behind a wall of storage.

The open bathroom leads directly into the master bedroom. The white tiles give the space an industrial feeling, while the white oak timber joinery brings warmth.

A peek inside a light-filled bathroom with cabinetry made of Australian blackbutt timber veneer. “Given that they’re rentals, durability and minimal maintenance were a big priority,” say the architects.

Small, penny-shaped Carrara marble tiles add texture to the master and guest bathrooms, which share a similar template.