At the heart of a heritage enclave in Sydney’s Paddington, this classic terrace had harbour views from its top balcony, and significant space below ground to use. The clients wanted an expansive kitchen and dining space, new bathrooms and a refresh throughout. 

Level changes in the site from front to rear allowed a layering of new spaces, culminating in a bistro-style kitchen and dining pavilion under a lofty ceiling 1.5 storeys high. Here, the finely framed steel windows bring in light, and open out to the garden. 

Wrapping around the dining table, a custom banquette extends into the kitchen near the monumental stone island bench that serves as the working hub. Utilising the subterranean space is a new laundry, storage and wine cellar. 

We worked with the pre-existing black-and-white interior palette which our clients liked, adding drama  and emphasis with monolithic slabs of stone and marble, ebony-stained oak joinery with tarnished brass detailing, and the fine steel doors finished in micaceous ‘Harbour Bridge’ paint.