Our Dulwich Hill Projects

Dulwich Hill Extension & First Floor Addition

Tucked away in Sydney’s Inner West, this Dulwich Hill project involved the transformation of a modest weatherboard cottage into a warm, contemporary family home through a carefully executed ground floor extension and first floor addition. The brief called for significantly more open-plan living space and two additional bedrooms and bathrooms to improve functionality, while maintaining the charm and character of the original dwelling.

Ground Floor Extension – Overcoming Challenges

The project came with a number of logistical challenges, most notably, restricted site access and sloped terrain. With the front of the property only offering a single narrow side passage, all excavation and material removal was meticulously planned via a rear dunny lane, requiring close coordination with neighbours and trades.

Once excavation was complete, a series of engineered retaining walls were constructed to stabilise ground levels both to protect adjacent properties and to form foundation for the landscaped yard. These early stages laid the groundwork for a safe and solid build, allowing the architectural vision to be realised.

The First Floor Addition

The new ground floor extension added a spacious, open-plan kitchen, dining and living area that flows seamlessly to the rear garden, ideal for modern family life and entertaining. Above, a first floor addition introduced a private master suite, including a bedroom, walk-in robe and ensuite, taking advantage of elevated outlooks and bringing new vertical dimension into the home.

Materials & Finishes

Balancing cotemporary materials that echoed the home’s character, the importance in selecting an external material that not only tied in with the existing weatherboard cottage but also ensured fire-rated boundary wall compliance was essential. The cladding used was the James Hardie Linea fibre cement weatherboard, which not only matched the existing profile but provided the best possible choice in consideration to all factors.

The interior finishes included engineered oak flooring, custom joinery to both kitchen and laundry, commercial grade aluminium windows and doors, large format tiles, custom stainless steel strip drains, wall hung vanities and LED strip lighting