Charmed by a terrace house with an unusually large backyard so close to the city, one family purchased a former bed-and-breakfast in Sydney’s small inner suburb of Forest Lodge—hoping to turn what was just a “building of rooms” into a light-filled home. For the renovation, they turned to their friends and frequent collaborators, Carter Williamson. For the Sydney-based firm’s fourth project together with these clients, they sought to rationalize the home’s existing plan and remove its redundant functions—transforming Pompei, as the project as named, into a bright and spacious dwelling.

Before: Dining Nook

After: Dining Nook

It is through the new, arched doorway that the most dramatic part of the renovation—the open-plan living space which connects to the backyard—is revealed. “It's the only arched door within the building, and what we’ve done is deliberately change the language of the architecture and made it a really deep reveal,” says principal architect Shaun Carter. “[It’s] a visual cue that you are moving from the old part of the house into the new part of the house. When you walk through that threshold, you are in a new environment which we have created.”

“Our clients wanted a warm, light palette to complement their family’s life,” explains the firm. “We landed [on] natural materials with terrazzo floors to anchor the palette, with timber, marble, brass, and linen curtains to accentuate the design.” The firm chose Dulux’s Kangaroo Pouch, a pastel pink that helps set the tone for the home’s natural, organic feel.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

All of the millwork in the kitchen, including the island, was custom designed by Carter Williamson and built by House by Hart. It was crafted with 30-millimeter Tasmanian Oak half-round dowels and forms a curve that echoes “the curve in the joinery which hugs the dining table,” says architect Ben Peake. The white cabinetry doors also exhibit deliberate detailing, made with narrower, 65-millimeter boards as a contemporary take on traditional timber boards.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

In the living room, Carter Williamson designed bespoke storage that harmonizes with the kitchen. Light timber elements were added for warmth to match the Tasmanian Oak veneer, also found in the kitchen. A redundant back staircase was removed, further opening up the space. A continuous bench replaced an existing nib wall, providing extra seating and allowing the homeowners to “entertain in the round” in the living room, as the firm describes.

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Before: Master Bathroom

After: Master Bathroom

Formerly the study, the new master bathroom suite benefits from plenty of natural light thanks to a full-height sliding door that leads to a balcony overlooking the backyard.

More Before & After:

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A Chicago Queen Anne Recovers From a Misguided 1960s Remodel

A Designer Mixes Asian and American Influences in Her Family’s San Francisco Kitchen

Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Carter Williamson Architects, Shaun Carter
Builder/General Contractor: SFN, Frank
Structural Engineer: Cardno, Cosmo Farrinola
Lighting Design: Carter Williamson Architects, Julie Niass
Interior Design: Carter Williamson Architects, Julie Niass
Cabinetry Design/Installation: House by Hart, Richard Hart

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Before & After: A Partitioned Bed-and-Breakfast in Sydney Is Now a Gracefully Unified Home