Croydon House by Folk Studio
A period cottage in Sydney’s inner-west is brought back to life by Folk Studio – creating a family-friendly interior while respecting the home’s historic features.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Jacqui Turk
The custom integrated timber handles on the timber cabinet fronts were designed so tiny fingerprints wouldn’t be as visible. Photo: Jacqui Turk
‘We designed a custom dining table and seating nook that would be easy enough for the kids to slip in and out of and also create a mess as all the materials chosen are hearty and kid-proof.’ Photo: Jacqui Turk
‘There were dips in the ceiling height and a very tight entrance into the kitchen, therefore designing the kitchen joinery was a really challenging task.’ Photo: Jacqui Turk
American oak timber features in all the custom joinery within the home. Photo: Jacqui Turk
‘We designed custom integrated timber handles on all the timber cabinet fronts so that tiny fingerprints wouldn’t be as visible on timber as opposed to traditional metal hardware and with the handle running the whole height/length of each cabinet front, the kids can access all the drawers/door themselves.’ Photo: Jacqui Turk
Inner-city period homes often come with spatial restrictions and quirks, which can bring about design challenges. For Folk Studio, the main focus for Croydon House was to rework the home without extending it, include much-needed storage space and also add more generous proportions to the tight layout.
‘We wanted it to feel incredibly family-friendly – so all our design decisions centred around durability, usability for kids, storage and pops of colour throughout,’ says Mariah Burton from Folk Studio.
The historic house came complete with its own set of design challenges, including a small narrow entrance into the kitchen and dips in the ceiling height in the kitchen. ‘Designing the kitchen joinery was a really challenging task. We had to create more storage without impacting the thoroughfare into the kitchen and also design the joinery around the various ceiling angles,’ says Mariah.
The renovation to create a more functional and generous home took nine months to complete: four months for design and five of construction.
The application of custom joinery is a major feature within the home, maximising storage for the family and opening up the space within the tight floorplan. ‘I particularly love the entertainment unit joinery and the dining room nook… we designed a custom dining table and seating nook that would be easy enough for the kids to slip in and out of and also create a mess, as all the materials chosen are hearty and kid-proof,’ says Mariah.
Custom integrated timber handles were designed for all the timber cabinet fronts so that tiny fingerprints wouldn’t be as visible on the timber - the cabinets are all family-friendly allowing the children to access all the drawers on their own.
A creamy brick and American oak are the hero materials of the project – the bricks are a contemporary nod to the original bricks in the home, while the timber is durable.
The end result is a home that is equipped to take on the needs of a growing family, focused on function and practicality – to be enjoyed for years to come!
The custom built joinery can be found throughout the home. Photo: Jacqui Turk
High on the priority list was the inclusion of storage - a must for a family with young children. Photo: Jacqui Turk
“We wanted the home to feel incredibly family friendly – the basis of all our design decisions were centred around durability, usability for kids, storage and pops of colour throughout.”
A study nook in one of the bedroom spaces. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Bunk beds make the most out of a compact space. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Bedroom details. Photo: Jacqui Turk
Simplicity in the design is echoed in the bathroom space. Photo: Jacqui Turk
