Aunt Marjorie’s House |
Many houses, sometimes the most modest places, have surprising back stories . A 1920s Pymble bungalow, largely intact and
built for an independent young female schoolteacher on a block bought from the Pymble family, has just such a story to tell.
Held in the same family for almost 100 years, the house was little changed until the 1990s, when Marjorie’s great-niece and her
family asked for our help in making the house once again a comfortable family home - ready for contemporary lifestyles while
respecting its enduring character and integrity. A rare opportunity for supportive, responsive design. The challenge of making
something already lovely, even better for the next generation !
A new kitchen, family room and parents’ bedroom, with a back verandah retained to access the new courtyard and expansive
back garden, were all introduced within a modest budget. Our brief required the stained Oregon timber joinery and the generous
feel of the house to be continued and adapted for flexible planning and uses. Some modern elements were inserted to bring in
the daylight and contemporary ideals of comfort and practicality - while being respectful of what had worked well across its first
decades. The dining room is now lit from above by a box lantern, and the kitchen opens to the garden through sliding sash
windows on three sides.
Repaired and reinvigorated, we hope it remains a cottage that will be enjoyed for its design and charm, by successive families,
for another 100 years.
Images: Lindy Kerr 2022 ©
built for an independent young female schoolteacher on a block bought from the Pymble family, has just such a story to tell.
Held in the same family for almost 100 years, the house was little changed until the 1990s, when Marjorie’s great-niece and her
family asked for our help in making the house once again a comfortable family home - ready for contemporary lifestyles while
respecting its enduring character and integrity. A rare opportunity for supportive, responsive design. The challenge of making
something already lovely, even better for the next generation !
A new kitchen, family room and parents’ bedroom, with a back verandah retained to access the new courtyard and expansive
back garden, were all introduced within a modest budget. Our brief required the stained Oregon timber joinery and the generous
feel of the house to be continued and adapted for flexible planning and uses. Some modern elements were inserted to bring in
the daylight and contemporary ideals of comfort and practicality - while being respectful of what had worked well across its first
decades. The dining room is now lit from above by a box lantern, and the kitchen opens to the garden through sliding sash
windows on three sides.
Repaired and reinvigorated, we hope it remains a cottage that will be enjoyed for its design and charm, by successive families,
for another 100 years.
Images: Lindy Kerr 2022 ©