Sweet Home Sydney: An Old House Gets a Modern Makeover

A 100-year-old house in Sydney, Australia is transformed into a sustainable space that inspires family and outdoor fun.

Tess Lloyd designs everyday in her job at Australian company Polli, which specializes in home accessories and jewelry. But she recently took on the biggest design project of her career -- her own home in Sydney, Australia.

Early in 2007, Tess and her husband Bill bought the Sydney home knowing that it would need some serious renovations. They were up to the challenge. Tess suddenly had a bit more extra time; she'd recently resigned from her day job to work on projects for Polli on a contract basis.

The couple had a few priorities -- They wanted the 100+ year old home to feel modern and fresh while still retaining some of the home's history and original character, and it was important that the home incorporate sustainable materials. They recruited a close team of women designers, relying on friend, interior designer Louise Sullivan, Tess's mother Ro Murray, who is an architect, as well as two other close family friends for lighting and color consulting.

We love the results: a lovely, sunlit sustainable family home, featuring LED down lights, cross ventilating louvers, cooling concrete floors and big bi-fold doors leading to an entertaining deck.

We asked Tess to share before and after pictures, and tell us more about the home renovation. You won't believe what this house looked like before the renovation. Find out after the jump.



EXTERIOR BEFORE


Before the renovation, the back of the home (above) was dark and overgrown. The muted colors got lost in the overgrown foliage and the patio was dated.

Tess and Bill decided to remove the rear section in order to expand and open up the kitchen and dining area (below). By widening the house, they were able to maximize the amount of natural light in the space. They also added a large entertaining deck, made of plantation Black Butt, an Australian hardwood chosen since it ages well in the warm Australian climate.

EXTERIOR AFTER


The new kitchen and dining area is an entertainer's dream! In addition to the wide open and airy living space, they installed speakers in the ceiling and on the deck and a pop-up power center positioned under the dining table makes the space laptop friendly (no extension cords stretching across the floor).

And don't forget the large bi-fold doors and louvered windows, which keep the space connected to the outdoors. On hot days, Bill and Tess can opt to open a retractable shade over the deck to cool things down.


It was a challenge to find flooring for the kitchen and dining area that could sustain the dirty smudges and wear and tear of little feet (they have a daughter named India) and paws. Ultimately, they chose a polished concrete slab, which is easy to clean, doesn't scratch easily and feels cool underfoot in the hot Australian summers. They added an off-white tint to the concrete and a "hit and miss" finish to create a natural concrete feel.

KITCHEN BEFORE


Before, the kitchen was a bit cramped and felt dark with all of the wood and tan tones.

By opening up the space but incorporating modern wood accents, the kitchen is a lively place to cook and gather. The kitchen is sleek and modern, but hardly cold. The lower wood cabinets add warmth, while the green glass backsplash gives the kitchen the splash of color it needed.

KITCHEN AFTER




For more before and after inspiration, check out this dramatic 3-day budget makeover or this glam bedroom redo.