Australian Home Features A Modern Aesthetic With Edwardian Roots
It’s a bit hard to believe this is an Edwardian house when you first lay eyes on the stunning, sculptural facade. The Brick House is located in Prahran, Victoria, in Australia and belongs to architect Clare Cousins and her family. Her practice, Claire Cousins Architects (CCA) completed the project in 2011.
A number of major changes were made. A small 1980’s extension was removed and another one was added. The rear of the site now features a separate garage with a studio above. It was built here to create a sense of privacy in the garden from the neighboring buildings and to contain the interior courtyard.
A dramatic, curved glass wall connects the main living area and the sculptural timber screen of the studio.
The dialogue between the indoor and outdoor areas is very smooth and harmonious and the same thing goes for the interior spaces which communicate with each other beautifully and sometimes in surprising ways.
Those beautiful curved lines of the facade wall are repeated throughout the house in a variety of forms. The living space, for example, features an oval area rug, a round coffee table a globe lamp plus a bunch of other stylish elements.
Everything is perfectly planned, down to the last detail. The curved sectional is facing the fireplace with white-painted bricks that go all the up to meet the wooden slats on the ceiling.
In the kitchen you can find black painted bricks with matching black cabinets and an elegant island with seating on one side and a marble countertop. Black and white are expertly combined here and the strong contrast is softened by the light wood accents strategically included in the décor.
The kitchen area also includes a dining space. The table has a raw wooden top and the chairs are exquisite, featuring a simple and chic design with soft curved backrests and gorgeous lines in general. And that slice of wood sitting on the table is jut what the room needed to feel complete.
We mentioned the wonderful dialogue between the interior spaces and now it’s time to actually show you what that’s all about. The living area, the kitchen and the dining space are all connected and there’s this harmonious flow from one zone to the next.
The TV area and playroom are tucked behind the kitchen. They’re hidden from the main living area but still connected to this whole zone while remaining physically separated. A very clever layout indeed.
Then there’s also this hidden study adjacent to the living area which allows one to work from home while remaining connected to the family room.
Although the renovation was extensive, the new design still retains some of the original character of the house. The front three rooms only needed cosmetic changes.
They now serve as spacious bedrooms and this one belongs to the couple’s daughters. Notice that ornate fireplace with Edwardian charm and the bold color accents spread throughout the room.
Because the original elements that were retained had such a rich and expressive look, the new additions were kept very simple, like that cute floor lamp which can easily go unnoticed.
There’s plenty to be admired about the master bedroom as well. The en-suite bathroom is hidden behind a traditional white door, has white tiles on the walls and feels very inviting despite the color palette.