It is difficult to believe this Dalkeith home is in fact a renovation of a tired 1980s brick house, because the results suggest otherwise.
While passers-by could mistake this for a new build, existing forms have been enriched and extended to create the restrained and sophisticated family home.
Hillam Architects completely transformed the large 1500sqm property, introducing a new driveway, gatehouse and guest wing in the home, resulting in a finished design that evoked luxury and a forward-thinking design language.
The clients wanted to maintain the large rear garden and northern aspect of the original house, and requested the kitchen and main living areas be expanded to promote an enhanced connection to the garden and outdoor entertaining zones.
At the front of the home, the extended driveway was reconfigured, and a new rendered concrete canopy was seamlessly installed to give the house more street presence upon arrival.
Existing brickwork facades were concealed behind a new, restrained palette of contemporary finishes, including rendered white ground floor elements, and rough sawn, stained Victorian cypress to cover the first floor’s angular curved forms.
Panels of dressed blackbutt cladding adorn the interior of the house, predominately in the lounge, and on the floating staircase and balcony.
Large panels of brickwork were removed to allow for extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing around the perimeter of the north-facing living areas.
New interior floor, wall and cabinetry finishes were also specified to complement the exterior architecture with an overarching
holistic design approach.This includes the monochrome designer kitchen that made use of the classic pairing of black cabinetry and white gloss benchtops.
Outdoors, a new pool plus generous cabana and outbuilding maximised the potential of the large rear garden, where a tennis court had previously been located. The resort-style feel of this outdoor space takes the homeowners far away from suburbia.
Hillam Architects’ collaborative approach with the client, builder Maek, and landscape architect Taylor Landscape proved a winning formula for this exquisite abode.
